Erdogan says Europe is “reaping what it sowed,” blaming European nations on energy crises

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Russia’s cutting gas supply to Europe is prompted by Western sanctions imposed on the country. 

Europe is "reaping what it sowed," Erdogan said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

"I think Europe will experience serious problems this winter,” he said, adding that Turkey would not have such problem.

Despite condemning the invasion of Ukraine, NATO member Turkey refused to impose sanctions on Russia or Russian citizens. 

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is using all his means and weapons, and the most important of these is natural gas. Unfortunately - we wouldn't want this but - such a situation is developing in Europe,” Erdogan said.

Europe which is highly dependent on Russian gas supplies is facing an energy crises following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in late February. Russia's state-owned gas giant Gazprom has shut down Nord Stream 1 Pipeline, a key gas supply route conveying Russian gas to Europe via Germany last week, citing maintenance. On Monday, Kremlin said Russian gas supplies to Europe will not resume until the West lifts sanctions against Russia.