German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed to build up favorable atmosphere, and urged Russia to improve communications with the EU following the latest crisis over energy supplies.
In the new year Moscow stopped pumping oil along a pipeline through Belarus accused Minsk of stealing oil, a move that, effect also to Germany, Poland and beyond. Last year gas supplies were stopped for several days in a dispute with another Ukraine on oil prices.
Europe depends on Russia for a significant proportion of its energy supplies, particularly gas. Russia supplies about a quarter of Europe’s gas needs and about a third of Germany’s.
The German chancellor had earlier slammed Russia and said that move was ‘unacceptable’ and one that “destroyed trust” in Russia. Now she adds that it was critical to find ways to communicate to avoid problems in the future.
Russian president Putin indicates to avoid transit countries and said
We will in the most active way possible develop our transport network in order to have the opportunity to deliver our resources to our main consumers directly.
