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Incoming ‘tsunami’ of hovering power payments as Putin’s man slams EU’s ‘stubborn stupidity’

Europe is bracing for soaring energy bills as Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev warns of an “oil and gas price tsunami” set to devastate the continent, blaming the crisis on the EU’s “stubborn strategic stupidity”

Europe is facing the threat of soaring energy bills, as the Kremlin warned of an impending “oil and gas price tsunami” set to hit the continent. Top Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev warned the price increases are “about to devastate Europe”.

Dmitriev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, blasted EU bosses for what he calls “stubborn strategic stupidity” after they turned their backs on cheap Russian energy. Dmitriev, speaking out on social media, didn’t mince his words.

He said: “An oil and gas price tsunami is about to devastate Europe.” Moreover, he reportedly blamed the looming disaster on “the stubborn strategic stupidity of Russophobes such as [European Commission President] Ursula [von der Leyen] and [EU foreign policy chief] Kaja [Kallas], who rejected reliable and cost-effective Russian energy.”

The warning came as chaos in the Middle East, sparked by a US-Israeli attack on Iran, sends global energy markets into meltdown. Since the start of March, gas prices have shot up by about 70% after strikes on key Gulf energy sites, while oil has soared past $110 a barrel as ships struggle to get through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for a fifth of the world’s oil.

Moscow has always insisted it’s a reliable supplier, but since the war in Ukraine kicked off in 2022, the EU has slashed Russian energy imports and slapped on tough sanctions, RT reported. Things got even worse after the Nord Stream pipeline was blown up in September 2022, sending gas prices through the roof.

Now, Russia is reportedly accusing Ukraine of ramping up attacks on the TurkStream pipeline, one of the last gas lifelines to Europe, warning that more trouble could make the current energy crisis even worse. It’s not just pipelines at risk.

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In March, a Russian-linked LNG tanker was hit and left drifting in the Med in what Moscow called a drone strike, showing just how shaky Europe’s energy supplies have become, as per RT.

Dmitriev reportedly reckons Brussels needs to swallow its pride and talk about reopening Nord Stream, even saying the EU could end up “begging” Russia for energy.

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