Qatar will not redirect gas contracts to other customers out of solidarity with Europe,, even if it means losing a possible financial benefit, Qatari Energy Minister Saad Al Kaabi told CNN.

However, the minister rejected the imposition of sanctions against Russia's energy sector, saying that energy should remain out of politics and reiterated that it was virtually impossible to completely stop Russian gas supplies to Europe. The minister also said that Qatar would not choose sides in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last week in an attempt to sway both countries into increasing oil supplies to the market, despite an agreement with Russia limiting oil supplies. The two countries have a backlog to reduce the global oil shortage, but both Gulf countries remain committed to the OPEC+ deal with Russia so far.

Qatar, which withdrew from OPEC in 2019 after a diplomatic spat with neighboring countries, has said it has no plans to return to the cartel. However, Al-Kaabi remained supportive of the supply chain's actions, calling the plan very sensible.