Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that the expansion of the "Israel-Gaza conflict" "will not affect production, but it may affect all other components that determine the state of the world’s energy markets."

Speaking at the Russian Energy Week forum, Putin also says that he doesn't "really see the point" in the US sending an aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean and warns that "such actions make the situation escalate".

In an interview released by the Kremlin after the forum, Putin notes that "Russia could also make its contribution to the settlement process."

Putin said: "These are completely obvious things. If, god forbid, the conflict grows, then this impact will, in my opinion, be inevitable. I don’t understand why the United States is sending an aircraft carrier group there and announcing a second one. I don't really see the point. Are they going to bomb Lebanon, or what?"

"It is necessary to look for compromise solutions. Of course, such actions [ed: the US sending an aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean] make the situation escalate. If the conflict goes beyond the Palestinian territories, like you said, of course it will have impact. Now, we're hearing Iran is starting to get all the blame without any evidence, as usual. Where is the evidence? There is none. We'll see. But I hope common sense will prevail," he added.