VIENNA, April 1. /TASS/. Moscow strictly fulfills its obligations to Vienna in the energy sector and remains a reliable partner of the country, Russian Ambassador to Vienna Dmitry Lyubinsky said in an interview with TASS.
"We continue to say and confirm in practice that Russia has been and continues to be a responsible and reliable commercial partner who scrupulously adheres to its responsibilities, regardless of how the Austrian authorities attempt to distort reality and mislead their own people. Despite the difficult geopolitical scenario, Gazprom supplied all of the gas volumes specified in long-term contracts in 2023 and continues to do it this year," he said.
According to Lyubinsky, Russia has never tried to "punish" Austria due to political circumstances. The ambassador also noted that Moscow does not use its energy resources to put pressure on other states.
"Some Austrian politicians have made it a habit of putting forth old myths about Moscow's 'gas weapons.' I would say that this is more than just a tribute to a heated political debate. This is a complete fabrication, and average Austrians would have to pay for it," the ambassador said.
According to the Austrian Ministry of Energy, the share of Russian natural gas in Austria’s energy balance reached 98% in December 2023, which is a record high since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine. In February 2022 the figure reached 79%.