The Russian Government has warned the citizens of the European Union that it will be they, and not the “bureaucrats” who run the European bloc, who will pay the price for any attempt to become independent of the energy provided by Russia in the context of sanctions by the invasion of Ukraine.

“Judging by the statements of the EU representatives, Europe intends to become independent from Russia’s energy sources at any price,” Nikolai Kobrinets, director of the pan-European cooperation department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, considered.

Kobrinets has then warned that “This price is not going to be paid by the top echelons of the European bureaucracy, but by ordinary European taxpayers”, and has criticized in his speech the “lack of reasoning” of the EU plans.

“There is already turbulence in world energy markets, if not panic. It is not known to what level prices will skyrocket, but it is already clear that the EU will end up paying exorbitant amounts for gas, oil and electricity. Let them decide,” he added in an interview with Interfax.

The Russian minister has also assured that “Russia continues to be a reliable supplier and a guarantor of world-class energy security”. “And we value this reputation, but we are ready for a tough confrontation in the energy sector, if necessary”.

Kobrinets also warned the European Union that it is “backing into a corner” with the sanctions it is enacting against Moscow. “Entering a sanctions spiral is not difficult. Getting out of it is,” he declared, before warning that Russia is also preparing its own sanctions “which cannot be strictly symmetrical, although it will not be difficult to establish a numerical parity in this regard.”