(MOSCOW) - Russia will fulfill all its contractual gas export commitments to the European Union, President Dmitry Medvedev told Euronews television Tuesday.

"We will respect all our obligations as the principal provider of hydrocarbons to Europe," Medvedev said, a day after Brussels opted to postpone talks on a strategic partnership covering energy, diplomatic and military ties with the Kremlin by way of response to the five-day war in Georgia.

Medvedev said European consumers, and by extension capitals, need have no fears of a "cold winter," as "no-one wants to see that."

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Russia would seek to "diversify" its energy export interests.

"We have no intention of limiting (energy exports) in any way; we will abide strictly by our contractual obligations," Putin had said.

"But we are going to enlarge and diversify our export possibilities for these products which are so essential to the global economy."

Russia supplies a quarter of the EU's gas needs, as well as a part of its oil requirements.

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