Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the West of causing crises in the global oil and gas market by hastily transitioning to green energy and pressuring other countries to do the same. Lavrov stated that the negative effects in the energy sector were a result of the West’s irresponsible actions in forcing the green transition on countries that were economically unprepared for it. He also criticized Western boycotts of Russian energy following the war in Ukraine, which he claimed had severely impacted global energy security.
Lavrov further highlighted that the destruction of Russia’s Nord Stream gas pipelines to Europe last year had resulted in the continent becoming more reliant on expensive gas imports from the United States, thereby depriving it of cheap gas. These remarks align with Moscow’s long-standing narrative that sanctions against Russia have been counterproductive and that Western countries have made a grave mistake by turning away from Russian energy.
The sanctions have significantly affected Russian gas giant Gazprom, leading to the loss of most of its European markets. Consequently, Russia has been compelled to increase sales of oil at discounted prices to countries like China and India.
It is important to note that Lavrov’s comments reflect the perspective of the Russian government and should be considered in the context of Russia’s geopolitical interests.
