Russia has every right to make a “mirror” decision and put an embargo on gas pumping through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which is currently loaded at the maximum level, but so far we have not made this decision, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.

“Europe today consumes about 500 billion cubic meters of gas a year, 40% of this consumption is provided by Russia. For many decades despite everything Russia has always been a reliable partner. And today Gazprom fully fulfills its contractual obligations to supply gas to Europe,” he noted.

Novak also noted that supplies through the Ukrainian gas transportation system have been increased to 109 million cubic meters per second, which is equivalent to transit supplies to European consumers of about 40 billion cubic meters of gas per year. “This is transit through Ukraine, and it is 100% fulfilled today. There are also deliveries through Nord Stream-1, Yamal-Europe, Turkish Stream and Blue Stream,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

“At the same time, we understand that due to unfounded accusations against Russia regarding the energy crisis in Europe and the ban on Nord Stream 2, we have every right to make a “mirror” decision and impose an embargo on gas pumping through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which today is loaded at a maximum level of 100%,” he stressed.

“But so far we are not making this decision. No one will benefit from it. Although European politicians are pushing us towards it with their statements and accusations against Russia,” the Russian Deputy Prime Minister noted.

“Unfortunately, today we see statements by European politicians regarding energy issues, calls to get rid of Russian oil and gas. European officials are once again trying to shift the problems and failures of their own energy policy of recent years onto Russia. As a consequence, we are seeing a sharp rise in energy prices. I declare responsibly that Russia has nothing to do with the current price hike and market volatility,” he emphasized.

Russia currently supplies about 60 billion cubic meters of gas a year through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.