(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday warned that Moscow would reconsider Western investments in Russia's energy sector.
Russia will reconsider Western investments in the "strategic economic sectors, specially the energy sector, if the campaign of western sanctions continues against Russia," Putin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
He said these sanctions, imposed by the US and European Union (EU) due to what they considered as Russia's role in escalation of tension in Ukraine, would harm Moscow's relations with America and Europe.
Putin accused Washington of inciting violence in Ukraine.
"Washington worked in the shadow to direct these developments, and it has common interests with the EU to imposing an unjust agreement on Ukraine," said Putin in reference to the EU's association agreement with Kiev.
Putin reiterated that there were no Russian special forces or military experts in Ukraine.
He said a solution for the crisis in Ukraine was possible through launching national dialogue, releasing political prisoners, disarming "extremists" and evacuating government buildings in Kiev from armed men.
Putin said Russia would not impose retaliatory sanctions against the US or the EU, but warned that Moscow would respond if the sanctions continued to target his country.
Meanwhile in Rome, CEO of Italian Eni oil group Paolo Scaroni said the group was ready to supply Ukraine with gas if Russia stopped its supplies.
"Eni is ready to supply Ukraine with gas" through Slovakia's borders if Gazprom suspended gas supplies, Scaroni said in a press statement.
Eni's supplies will not be huge but every cubic meter can help" in case of the Russian gas supplies' suspension, he said.
Gazprom is supplying Italy with around one-third of its natural gas needs.
Scaroni voiced concerns that the European sanctions against Russia might undermine "trade relations between Eni and Gazprom."
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