Europe has faced significant setbacks since imposing a self-imposed ban on Russian gas, said Dmitry Birchevsky, director of the Department of Economic Cooperation at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"It is clear to us that these measures are completely intolerable. Self-imposed bans and other restrictions directly harm those who impose them," he said. "European economies and end users, both industry and households, are now facing higher costs as businesses close or move to other jurisdictions. As Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the 8th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow, 'He who digs a hole will fall into it,'" the diplomat stated.
Birichevsky noted that the EU's initiative to impose a total ban on imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is in line with the political sanctions policy of recent years aimed at isolating Russia economically.