Italian prime minister says Putin ready to raise gas supplies

ROME, Feb 21 (PRIME) -- President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to raise natural gas sales to Italy, Italian Prime Minister Mari Draghi said in a news conference late on February 18.

“Putin mentioned the possibility to continue ensuring supplies of gas and to raise them if necessary. It should be taken in light of our obligations to our allies, on the effect of the sanctions. I appreciate the obligation, but it remains an obligation so far,” he said.

On January 26, at a video conference with the top managers of Italian businesses, Putin pointed to reliability of Russian energy exports to Italy. The country gets Russian gas at prices below the market thanks to long-term contracts, and the exports grew by 2 billion cubic meters on the year in 2021, he said.

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