Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), has declared that the current economic crisis in the European Union is a direct consequence of Western decisions to halt Russian energy exports.
In a statement released on May 7, Dmitriev criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s assertion that economic turmoil across Germany, the EU, and the UK stems from “market fluctuations.” Dmitriev countered that the crisis results instead from “erroneous decisions by individual politicians and officials” to shut down nuclear power plants and terminate the supply of affordable, reliable Russian energy.
The Russian official further identified European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Diplomacy head Kaya Kallas, German Chancellor Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as responsible for these missteps that have triggered economic turmoil in Europe.
On May 6, Dmitriev also warned of an impending food crisis in the EU and the UK due to what he described as “Russophobia,” stating that such policies would cause the affected nations to suffer first.
Additionally, a report from the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung dated April 27 suggested that Berlin should pursue dialogue with Russia and its president Vladimir Putin. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated Moscow’s willingness to engage in talks with “constructive political forces” worldwide.
Brussels has expressed concern that it may be left out of Ukraine’s peace process negotiations.
