EU facing ‘worst energy crisis in history’ – Putin envoy

Kirill Dmitriev has accused Brussels of making “zero attempts” to analyze the underlying causes of the crunch, such as the phase out of Russian supplies, and “adjust course” Europe is facing “the worst energy crisis in history,” Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev has warned, describing the situation as a “self-made.” He has repeatedly blamed the EU’s decision to cut Russian energy imports as a key factor behind the crisis.

Dmitriev made the remarks after reports of worsening fuel shortages across the EU.

Government data on Sunday showed that 15% of French gas stations were facing supply problems with at least one type of petrol or diesel.

German media also reported record fuel prices, with Super E10 gasoline reaching around €2.3 ($2.6) per liter and diesel averaging a record €2.45.

Across the EU, petrol prices are 24% higher than a year ago, diesel is up 38%, and jet fuel costs more than double.

Benchmark gas prices have surged 150% year-on-year to €81 per megawatt hour, with analysts warning they could reach €100.

“Europe finally understands it is facing the worst energy crisis in history,” Dmitriev wrote in a series of posts on X on Saturday, calling it “a self-made crisis with zero attempts to analyze root causes and adjust course.” Self-made crisis with zero attempts to analyze root causes and adjust course. https://t.co/zvdb0RkYsE — Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) September 20, 2026 The bloc this year has faced mounting supply pressures from the US-Israeli war on Iran, which disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and LNG.

Read more EU can forget about competitiveness at current energy prices – Tusk Combined with Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and Saudi energy infrastructure, the disruptions pushed crude benchmarks up around 50%, with prices hovering above $100 per barrel and driving fuel and gas costs higher.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week said the EU had spent more than €90 billion extra on fossil fuel imports since the war began.

Much of the additional expense was passed on to households.

Brussels also previously acknowledged that industrial gas and electricity prices remain two to four times higher than those of major trading partners.

The Middle East conflict, however, has further pressured energy markets already strained by Europe’s sharp reduction in Russian supplies following sanctions imposed after the 2022 escalation of the Ukraine conflict.

Before then, Russia supplied around 45% of EU gas imports and 27% of crude oil.

By 2025, its share had fallen to 12% of gas imports and around 2% of crude.