Russia’s energy giant Gazprom last month suspended gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria after the two countries refused to pay in Russian roubles amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, according to officials.
“We knew that Russia might try to blackmail us with gas supplies," Przydacz said in an interview with MSNBC's Katy Tur on Tuesday, adding that Poland "was prepared for such a situation."
He spoke about his country plans to manage without Russian gas.
Przydacz also told MSNBC about Poland's efforts to protect its own citizens and about the country's assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
He urged the international community to put more pressure on Russia to stop its war against Ukraine.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said last month that Gazprom's decision to stop delivering gas to European customers was "yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail."
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters that his country had sufficient reserves and alternative supply routes after Russia said it was suspending gas supplies to Poland under a long-term contract.
"For now, our storage is about 85 percent full, and we are prepared to survive the next few months somehow without Russian gas," Przydacz told MSNBC.
"We would like to see all the countries in the European Union to follow that example and cut off all the energy links with Russia," he added.
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Source: PAP, msnbc.com