Russian Official Says EU Downplays Its Own $320 Billion in Energy Purchases

Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has said the European Union is downplaying roughly $320 billion worth of Russian energy it has purchased since 2022, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Dmitriev also argued that a recent US-Russia diesel agreement delivers benefits to US farmers, consumers, and the broader energy market, framing the deal as advantageous beyond the two countries directly involved in negotiating it.

Part of a broader messaging effort

The remarks are consistent with a wider pattern of statements from Russian officials aimed at highlighting what they describe as inconsistency between European governments' public criticism of Moscow and their continued economic reliance on Russian energy exports.

TASS's report did not include a response from European Union officials to Dmitriev's specific characterization of the bloc's purchasing record, nor independent verification of the $320 billion figure cited. The EU has implemented a series of restrictions on Russian energy imports since the start of the war in Ukraine, while maintaining some exemptions for certain categories of trade.

The specific structure and parties involved in the US-Russia diesel deal referenced by Dmitriev were not detailed further in the available reporting. The claims made in this report originate from a Russian government-linked official and have not been independently corroborated.