Ukraine president calls on energy producers to hike output at Doha forum

DOHA (REUTERS, AFP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on energy producing countries on Saturday (March 26) to increase output so that Russia cannot use its oil and gas wealth to "blackmail" other nations.

Addressing the Doha Forum international conference via video link, Mr Zelensky said countries such as Qatar could make a contribution to the stabilisation of Europe by raising natural gas production.

"They can do much to restore justice. The future of Europe depends on your effort. I ask you to increase the output of energy to ensure that everyone in Russia understands that no country can use energy as a weapon and blackmail the world," he said in translated comments.

The month-long invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Europe's top gas supplier, has sharpened concerns of disruption to energy supplies and increased scrutiny of European Union countries' reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Mr Zelensky also said no country is insured against shocks from disruptions to food supply happening because of Russia's invasion of his country.

Ukraine is one of the world's largest grain producers.

"The world's markets have not yet overcome from the repercussions of the pandemic, from the price shocks of food. No one is insured against these shocks and you cannot be insured if there is a physical scarcity of food," he said. "Russian troops are covering fields in Ukraine for miles, they are exploding agrarian equipment."

At the same forum, Mr Zelensky said Russia "bragging" about its nuclear weapons is fuelling a dangerous arms race.

“They are bragging that they can destroy with nuclear weapons not only a certain country but the entire planet,” Mr Zelensky said.

When Ukraine dismantled its nuclear stockpile in the 1990s it was given “security assurances from the most powerful countries in the world”, including Russia, he said in comments translated into English for the conference.

“But these assurances did not become guarantees. And in fact, one of the countries supposed to give one of the greatest security promise started to work against Ukraine and this is the ultimate manifestation of injustice,” Mr Zelensky added.