Business · Energy & Commodities · 12 hrs ago
Novak says EU criticism of Russian diesel harms European consumers
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak criticized the EU over Russian diesel supplies at the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow.
He said European energy policy has put political choices ahead of market and consumer interests.
Europe began moving away from affordable and stable Russian energy supplies after 2022, Novak said.
He argued that energy costs have risen and linked the shift to factory relocations, bankruptcies and business closures.
Russia has supplied Europe with energy worth $320 billion since 2022, including $21.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026, he said.
Novak said Russia is ready to continue fulfilling existing contracts, including some that run until 2035–2040.
He described Europe’s refusal to accept supplies under those contracts as a unilateral decision, but no next steps were given.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said EU criticism of Russian diesel supplies harms European consumers.
He said European consumers face higher costs after Europe moved away from affordable and stable Russian energy supplies.
Novak said politics had taken precedence over rational energy decisions and that European businesses had relocated, closed or gone bankrupt.
He said Russia had supplied Europe with energy resources worth $320 billion since 2022, including $21.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026.
Novak said Russia remained prepared to fulfill contracts, some of which run until 2035–2040.
- Who
- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
- What
- He said EU criticism of Russian diesel supplies runs counter to European consumers’ interests.
- When
- October 16, 2026.
- Where
- At the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow.
- Why
- Novak said European energy policy is driven by politics and has led Europe away from affordable and stable Russian supplies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russia supplied Europe with energy resources worth $320 billion, according to Novak.
Russia supplied Europe with energy resources worth $21.3 billion, according to Novak.
Novak criticized the EU’s position on Russian diesel supplies at the Russian Energy Week forum.
- Speaker
- Alexander Novak, Russian deputy prime minister
- Forum
- Russian Energy Week, Moscow
- Energy supplied since 2022
- $320 billion
- Energy supplied in first nine months of 2026
- $21.3 billion
- Some contract end dates
- 2035–2040
What people are saying
It is European consumers who suffer first and foremost.
It was not Russia that walked away from cheap and stable energy supplies. Rather, it was Europe that made that decision for political reasons.
We remain prepared to continue fulfilling our contracts - including long-term agreements, some of which run until 2035-2040.