Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has criticized US President Donald Trump’s calls for European nations to abandon Russian energy in favor of American oil and gas, labeling the approach as a pursuit of economic self-interest. Peskov described Trump as “a businessman” prioritizing US economic gains, citing the president’s repeated demands that EU members cease importing Russian energy.
Trump’s stance, framed as a move to penalize Russia over its actions in Ukraine, has been met with skepticism by Moscow. Peskov argued that the shift risks straining European economies, noting that “the entire world would pay more for American oil and LNG.” He used a satirical analogy, comparing Trump’s strategy to forcing Europeans to buy smaller crayfish at higher prices.
Russia has redirected energy exports to markets like China and India amid reduced EU demand, with Peskov claiming the country has “not suffered much” from the shift. Meanwhile, European nations, including Hungary and Slovakia, continue relying on Russian fossil fuels due to infrastructure constraints.
Moscow has condemned Western sanctions as illegitimate, warning that Trump’s demands could destabilize the EU and increase energy costs through intermediaries. The US president has reiterated his readiness to impose “strong tariffs” on Russia’s trade partners unless energy imports from Moscow are halted or a Ukraine conflict resolution is achieved.
