"We saw statements of some German politicians, as well as publications in a number of media, accusing the Russian leadership and Gazprom [energy company] of allegedly failing to fulfil their obligations, artificially restricting supplies to the European gas market, unprecedentedly inflating spot prices, seeking to freeze Europeans during the upcoming winter... These statements are confusing. They have nothing to do with the real state of affairs", the ambassador said in a comment to the German news agency RND.
"Over the more than 50 years of successful cooperation with European countries in the gas sector, Moscow has never used the supply of raw materials as an 'energy weapon' or an 'instrument of pressure'. Gazprom strictly observes all agreements. The company has not reduced or artificially restricted gas sales to the EU. Most of the sales are carried out within long-term contracts, in which the price of gas does not depend on current market fluctuations", Nechaev explained.
"Some companies, in hoping for better prices, did not take care of the timely replenishment of their own gas storage facilities. What does Russia have to do with it? Or are we also the ones to blame for the fact that gas production in some European countries is declining?", the ambassador said.