Putin describes allegations of Moscow weaponizing energy as 'politically-motivated blather'

MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - Allegations that Russia uses energy as a weapon are "politically-motivated blather," which has nothing in common with reality, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"As for the use of energy as some kind of weapon, this is exactly what can be called politically-motivated blather, which has no substantiation at all," Putin said at a plenary session of the Russian Energy Week forum on Wednesday.

Russia has been increasing gas supplies to Europe, while partners from other countries, including the United States, have been reducing them, Putin said. "These things are openly available. You only have to look it up on the Internet. There's everything there," he said.

"You're speaking about the charges brought against Russia of using energy resources as a weapon. This is complete nonsense, ravings, and politically-motivated blather, which isn't based on anything credible and which has no substantiation at all," he said in reply to a question from the moderator as to whether Russia uses energy as a weapon.

"Russia doesn't use any weapon in general, if you've noticed. And concerning the economy, where are we using weapons? In what conflicts are we involved?" Putin said.

Even in the most difficult periods of the Cold War era, Russia regularly and accurately honored all of its contractual obligations and supplied gas to Europe, he said.

"By the way, your compatriots, the United States, also opposed the 'gas for pipes' project at the time, but the-then leadership of the Federal Republic [of Germany] still had its own way and implemented that project, and it still remains in effect," he said.