Kremlin Ignores EU Plans To Stop Energy Imports From Russia

UNSPLASH/ALEXANDRE LALLEMAND ILLUSTRATION

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the EU's plans to stop importing energy and Russia's commodities more quickly would not affect Russia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen previously said it would propose to stop importing Russian fossil fuels more quickly.

"They (European countries) mistakenly believe that the continuation of the sanctions policy could affect the position of the Russian Federation," Peskov said at a daily press conference reported by Reuters, Wednesday, September 17.

"Russia, which defends its national interests, is certainly not affected by this sanction and the last three years have proven this clearly," he added.

The Russian economy has shown resilience in the face of sanctions imposed by the West over the conflict in Ukraine, although it is also grappling with continued-high inflation and an increasing budget deficit, in part due to a sharp increase in military spending.

Despite the sanctions, the EU still imports billions of euros in Russian energy and commodities, from liquefied natural gas to enriched uranium, although imports of Russian oil and gas have plummeted.