Russia to Increase Natural Gas Exports to Europe – Putin

BRUSSELS. Oct 3 (Interfax) – Russia has made a strategic decision to increase its natural gas exports to Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

“There is already to be an increase of 60 billion cubic meters within the next few years. Contracts have been signed already,” Putin told a news conference after talks with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

Russia does not object to some West European firms becoming “participants in companies involved in gas extraction in Russia,” the president said.

“We will team up to lay a pipeline under the Baltic Sea and they will let us into companies dealing with the distribution of gas and electricity in their countries,” Putin said.

“A firm and balanced system of interests for the long-term is being created in Europe,” he said.