Biden urges Europe to diversity its energy supplies to reduce dependence on Russia

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says Europe needs to keep diversifying its energy supplies to reduce dependence on Russia, which he says should not be allowed to use its gas and oil as a geopolitical tool.

At the Atlantic Council's energy security summit in Istanbul on Saturday, Biden said the conflict in Ukraine underscores the urgency of the problem.

Russia, Ukraine and the European Union recently reached a $4.6 billion deal that will guarantee Russian gas to Ukraine and on to the European Union. The deal eased fears that Europe will shiver this winter like it did in 2009, when a spat over Ukraine's gas bill prompted Russia to cut off energy supplies to Europe for nearly two weeks.

Biden is in Turkey to also discuss the conflict in Syria.