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Scholz claims Germany no longer ‘dependent’ on Russian gas

The German Chancellor also thanked Germans for saving energy

© EPA-EFE/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

BERLIN, October 20. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz claims that Germany has already overcome its dependence on Russian gas supplies and seeks to cut gas consumption by 20%.

"I am glad that we have managed to agree at the European level on the goal of reducing gas consumption by 15%. This is a strong signal of European solidarity, also [a signal] with regards to our country, which until now has been particularly dependent on Russian gas," Scholz said speaking in the Bundestag on Thursday.

"Please note, it was [dependent]. After all, we have freed ourselves from this dependence and we are entering the winter well prepared," the chancellor believes.

Scholz also thanked Germans for saving energy.

"Together we are striving to cut gas consumption by 20%. Every kilowatt-hour we save, increases our energy security," Scholz claimed.

The German leader reiterated that Moscow allegedly "uses energy as a weapon."

"Long before the emergencies at the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea, Russia had already stopped its supplies via Nord Stream for unknown reasons. Therefore, this Russia under [President Vladimir] Putin, is no longer a reliable trading partner," Scholz asserted.

Germany decided to roll back its dependence on Russian energy resources due to Moscow’s special operation in Ukraine. According to Berlin’s plan, this year the country is going to abandon coal and oil, but it will need Russian gas at least during next year.

Russian officials have repeatedly denied accusations that Moscow had ‘weaponized’ energy, pointing out that the EU’s energy policy and sanctions against the Russian Federation led to the current energy dilemma plaguing Europe.

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