Qatar, one of the world's largest exporters of natural gas, will not be able to unilaterally fill Europe's energy needs in the event of a shortage due to the situation around Ukraine, Energy Minister said, Reuters reports.

“The volume of gas needed by the EU cannot be replaced by anyone unilaterally, without disturbing supplies to other regions around the world," the minister, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, said in a statement

Kaabi issued the statement following a meeting in Doha with EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.

He expressed hope that tensions in Europe can be resolved through diplomacy so that all suppliers can work together to ensure energy security in the short and long term.

Qatar is a key US ally in the Middle East region and a leading trade and political partner of the EU.

The United States is concerned that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine and has asked Qatar and other major gas producers in recent weeks to explore whether they can supply additional gas to Europe if Russian supplies are disrupted.

Moscow has repeatedly denied Western allegations of an impending attack on Ukraine.