MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/: Russia will redirect coal supplies to alternative markets after the European Union refuses the shipments, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.
"Shipments of coal, as Europe refuses [its] consumption, …, will be redirected to alternative markets," he said. "Of course, coal is still a very popular commodity," Peskov stressed.
On Thursday, the European Union countries approved the fifth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes restrictions on individuals and financial institutions, and also embargoes coal imports from Russia, as well as supplies of high-tech goods. In particular, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany should fully use the four-month transition period for phasing out coal imports from Russia.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has stated that it would be difficult for some European countries, who rely heavily on Russian coal imports, to refuse Russian shipments immediately. According to him, Russia will be able to shift coal exports to Asia-Pacific countries by utilizing free capacity at the Black Sea and Baltic ports.
