Shock in Europe: Putin Threatens to Cut Russian Gas Without EU Ban Lift
Amid Middle East turmoil, Putin warns he may halt gas exports to Europe, urging the EU to reconsider its embargo, while eyeing new, potentially more profitable markets beyond the continent.
Vladimir Putin warns he may halt natural gas exports to Europe, exploiting the unrest from the war in Iran and pressuring the EU to reconsider its ban.
Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the possibility of cutting off natural gas supplies to Europe, speaking to journalists on March 4. According to him, the gas shortage caused by the war in Iran opens new opportunities for Moscow to export to other markets.
These statements come after the European Union’s decision on January 26 to approve an extended ban on Russian gas imports. The plan envisions a gradual phase-out of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas, with a possible full stop by the end of 2027.
Putin’s proposals for immediate action
Speaking to Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin on March 4, Putin suggested stopping gas exports before Europe implements the ban.
“They are planning to impose restrictions on the Russian gas market, including liquefied gas, in one month… and further restrictions, leading up to a full ban, within a year, in 2027,” he said.
Yet, he emphasized that new markets are opening. “And it may be more profitable for us to immediately stop supplies to the European market. To shift to those emerging markets and establish ourselves there.”
Connection to developments in the Middle East
Putin directly referenced the escalating US-Iran war, which has plunged the Middle East into a new wave of violence and caused global increases in oil and gas prices.
“Customers willing to buy the same natural gas at higher prices have appeared, in this case due to the events in the Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and so on,” he explained. “This is natural; there is nothing political here – it is simply business.”
Although he claimed he was simply “thinking aloud” without political intentions, he linked the Kremlin’s future decision to Europe’s “wrong policies,” signaling pressure on the EU to revoke the ban.
“I will definitely instruct the government to work on this issue together with our companies,” he added.
History of gas supplies
Moscow accounted for nearly half of Europe’s gas consumption until 2022, when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
Its share dropped to less than one-fifth by 2023, but increased again by 18% in 2024, mainly due to rises in Russian LNG supplies. Subsequently, the EU developed new regulations throughout 2025 to restrict purchases of Russian gas.
Russia accounted for only 6% of pipeline gas imports to Europe in 2025. Norway, the US, and Algeria have replaced Russia’s position in the European gas market.
“Russia has always been and remains a reliable energy supplier to all our partners, including, by the way, European ones,” Putin said.
“And we will continue to work this way with those partners who are themselves reliable – for example, those in Eastern Europe, such as Slovakia and Hungary.”
