BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Group of Seven industrialised powers and the European Union have resolved to cooperate to keep Russian President Vladimir Putin from using oil and gas supplies as a weapon in the increasingly violent Ukrainian crisis. The decision came as G7 energy ministers gathered in Rome to discuss the issue of energy security.
Alleviating Europe’s dependence on gas supplies from Russia was the key focus of the two-day meeting. The current fear is that escalating tensions with Kiev and Western powers may lead Moscow to cut off gas deliveries to Europe that pass through Ukraine.
The energy ministers are expected to produce a statement which will be submitted for further discussion at a G7 summit in Brussels next month.
The document is likely to list a series of options to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian gas supplies, including improving energy efficiency, exploring the possibility of importing shale gas from North America, and developing pipelines from the Caspian Sea.
(Source: cntv.cn)
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