Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has quoted President of Russia Vladimir Putin as saying that Russia is ready to sell natural gas to Germany. The Belarusian leader made the relevant statement for reporters on the sidelines of a Eurasian Economic Union summit on 26 December, BelTA has learned.
The reporters asked the head of state to elaborate on statement he made during a recent meeting with Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin regarding the possibility of European Union countries resuming cooperation with Russia and Belarus soon. “I think that Europe will open up to us sooner or later. I am absolutely convinced of it after the [trip to] the Emirates. Europe cannot exist without Russia. It cannot exist without us. This is why good fast roads are needed,” he said back then.
On the sidelines of the EAEU summit Aleksandr Lukashenko reaffirmed the idea: “Certainly, it will open up. What else can it do? Read what the person, whom I consider to be the future chancellor of Germany, writes: ‘We are not children. We know what cheap gas means.’ It means they will buy cheap gas from Russia. Only idiots would pass up on the opportunity. Moreover, when one line of the natural gas pipeline [Nord Stream remains]. They haven’t had the time to blow it up. This is why Russia can [deliver] 25 billion m3 via this line.”
“As far as I know it. Yesterday I asked Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] whether Russians are ready to sell. He said they have always been ready. This is why they are free to buy it, pay money to Russia, and resume normal relations. Not for the sake of Russia. Russia can live without them. We can, too. Let them resume their relations in the name of their own economy – the German one,” the head of state stated.
