Russian Envoy Dmitriev Calls EU Criticism of US-Russia Diesel Deal 'Hypocritical'

Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian presidential envoy for investment and economic cooperation, has described European Union criticism of a recent US-Russia diesel agreement as hypocritical, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Dmitriev's remarks came in response to a statement by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who said that European countries have purchased approximately $320.7 billion worth of Russian energy supplies since 2022, despite sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The comments reflect a recurring argument from Russian officials, who have repeatedly said European governments continue to rely on Russian energy even as they publicly condemn Moscow and impose sanctions targeting its energy sector.

Context of the dispute

The European Union has progressively restricted imports of Russian oil and gas since 2022, while continuing to permit certain categories of trade under exemptions and transitional arrangements. The specific US-Russia diesel deal referenced in Novak's and Dmitriev's remarks was not detailed further in the available reporting.

TASS did not report a response from EU officials to Dmitriev's comments, and the bloc's institutions have not issued a public statement addressing the specific figures cited by Novak. The claims from Russian officials have not been independently verified against EU trade data in the reporting reviewed.

The exchange adds to the ongoing war of words between Moscow and Brussels over energy policy, sanctions enforcement, and the broader economic dimensions of the conflict in Ukraine.