Zakharova sharply attacks Europe: "A king of shame who knows the truth and ignores it"

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attacked the EU's energy policies, arguing that its countries' abandonment of Russian supplies would eventually lead them to a total power outage.

Zakharova said Brussels' move to cut energy consumption was nothing but a "European flash mop," adding that this path would inevitably culminate in a complete blackout. She explained that the energy strategy adopted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is based on rationing consumption, describing this as "a European protest parade that turns into a power outage to take revenge on Russia."

The Russian diplomat invoked the famous story  of the "naked king" to describe the European situation, saying that everyone is aware that "this European king is a disgrace, he has fallen victim to deception, and he has deceived himself, while those who imitate him in his imitative dress continue to loot and ridicule him."

Zakharova's remarks come at a time when global energy markets are witnessing severe turmoil, as the price of Brent crude has risen by about 40% since the beginning of March, approaching the $100 barrier per barrel, while gas prices in Europe jumped by 76%, against the background of the escalation in the Middle East and the resulting near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Following the outbreak of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, the European Union imposed a broad package of sanctions on Moscow, including restrictions on energy imports and plans to phase out Russian gas, leading to a significant reduction in the volume of supplies flowing to Europe.