US, UK call on Europe to reduce dependence on Russian gas

LONDON, Feb 15 (PRIME) -- U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.S. President Joe Biden held a phone call in which they stated the need for European countries to reduce dependence on Russian gas, Johnson’s office said in a statement late on Monday.

“They (Johnson and Biden) agreed that western allies must remain united in the face of Russian threats, including imposing a significant package of sanctions should Russian aggression escalate. They also reiterated the need for European countries to reduce their dependence on Russian gas, a move which, more than any other, would strike at the heart of Russia’s strategic interests,” the statement read.

The Western countries have been accusing Russia of hostile actions towards Ukraine and militarization of the Russia–Ukraine border and threatened Moscow with harsh sanctions in the event of a direct military confrontation. However, Russia has repeatedly rebuked the allegations and stated that it’s the NATO that advances towards the Russian border and incites hostility, sending troops and weaponry to Ukraine and refusing to force Kiev into following the internationally-recognized Minsk agreements.

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