OREANDA-NEWS Outgoing European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said that the EU can do without Russian gas, and new contracts with the Russian Federation are political decisions of "some countries.

"We are ready to do without Russian gas, we have been preparing for this in recent years... If some countries conclude new contracts, these are political decisions," she said following the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Energy of the European Union.

At the same time, the European Commissioner acknowledged the increase in LNG purchases from Russia to the EU, but expressed hope that this "will not be a trend."