Russian President warns Belarus against gas threat to EU

President Vladimir Putin has warned Belarus that its threat to cut off gas supplies to Europe would be a breach of contract with Russia.

In a TV interview, Mr. Putin said President Alexander Lukashenko may have made the threat in a fit of temper.

European countries get about a third of their gas supplies from Russia, some via a Russian-owned pipeline running through Belarus.

Mr. Putin told Rossiya television on Saturday that he had spoken to his Belarus counterpart twice and hadn’t even had a “hint” of the threat to cut off gas supplies.

“Of course, in theory, Lukashenko as president of a transit country could order our supplies to be cut to Europe. But this would mean a breach of our gas transit contract and I hope this will not happen,” he said.

“There’s nothing good in this, and I will, of course, talk to him about this subject. Perhaps he said that in a fit of temper.”

Thursday’s threat by Belarus came amid the threat of fresh EU sanctions, which could be introduced as early as Monday. Possible measures include stopping international airlines carrying migrants from landing at the airport in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

BBC/Nnenna.O