Dmitriev Says Europe Needs Russian Energy to Survive Winter
In short
Kirill Dmitriev, described by Russian outlets as head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and as the president's special representative for investment and economic cooperation, said Europe needs Russian energy resources to survive the winter. Vedomosti reported that he made the statement in a post on X, saying the EU has already faced serious consequences of “stubborn ideological mistakes” in energy. RIA Novosti, Vedomosti and TASS all carried the claim.
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Kirill Dmitriev said Europe needs Russian energy resources to survive the winter, according to RIA Novosti, Vedomosti and TASS. Vedomosti reported that he made the statement in a post on the social network X, writing: “Winter is coming… Europe needs Russian energy to survive.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In the same post, according to Vedomosti, Dmitriev said the European Union had already faced serious consequences of what he described as “stubborn ideological mistakes” committed in the energy sector. He also recalled his remarks to the press at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on 3 June, when he said European countries had lost roughly 3 trillion euros by giving up Russian energy. [ 2 ]
The outlets described Dmitriev's position differently. Vedomosti identified him as the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, while TASS described him as the Russian president's special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries. The documents do not say when the post was published or what reaction it drew. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The statement comes from a Russian state-linked figure and is aimed at European energy policy, which the documents present as having already cost European countries heavily. The documents give no indication of any official talks, decisions or response from European governments, so the practical consequences remain unstated in the sourcing.
Key facts
- Kirill Dmitriev said Europe needs Russian energy resources to survive the winter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- According to Vedomosti, he made the statement in a post on the social network X. [ 2 ]
- He said the European Union has already faced serious consequences of what he called “stubborn ideological mistakes” in the energy sector. [ 2 ]
- He recalled saying at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on 3 June that European countries had lost about 3 trillion euros by giving up Russian energy. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti identified him as head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, while TASS described him as the Russian president's special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Dmitriev was speaking in his capacity as head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund or as the president's special representative for investment and economic cooperation. Vedomosti and TASS describe his role differently, and neither document explains the relationship between the two positions.
- The claim that European countries lost about 3 trillion euros by abandoning Russian energy. Only Vedomosti reports the figure, which it attributes to a June 3 press appearance at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum rather than to the current statement.
- When the post on X was published. The documents give no time for the post, only the outlets' publication times.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports that Europe needs Russian energy for survival, according to Dmitriev. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti publishes details of Dmitriev's post on X, including his criticism of EU energy policy and his June 3 SPIEF remark. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports Dmitriev's statement, describing him as the president's special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries. [ 3 ]