“The fire of the world revolution in the economy”
Dmitry Medvedev argues that Europeans have harmed themselves by embracing a further round of sanctions, including a gradual shutdown of Russian oil supplies.
“The European Commission has rolled out the sixth package of sanctions with the aim of crushing the Russian economy. Yet the real target, Medvedev suggests, is the ignition of a global economic upheaval. He notes that the revolution tends to devour its own children, a point he shared on his Telegram channel.”
He says the phased oil embargo will place citizens and businesses across Europe “against the wall.” At the same time, the EU cannot instantly sever all ties to Russian energy, so member nations chose to phase the plan over several months to secure alternative sources of supply.
“Now Europeans will have to scour the world for raw materials of similar quality. They may face shortages of critical fuels, including diesel, which powers trucks and agricultural machinery.”
Medvedev contends that Europeans will likely craft gray-market schemes to obtain Russian materials and will find ways to pay for them while bypassing the sanctions. He implies that truckers in Italy, Poland and Hungary are already on strike, blocking foreign cars, while Warsaw is reluctant to supply raw materials to Ukraine and may opt to sell them only under pressure. He argues that this dynamic demonstrates how the so‑called people’s war club has already influenced European authorities.
He added that the sixth package aims to complicate supply to third countries by attempting to ban insurance for tankers carrying Russian oil. The deputy head of Russia’s Security Council contends that Europe is not mindful of how these measures affect partners elsewhere. He asserts that the insurance problem is solvable through guarantees within interstate agreements with third nations.
“Russia has always been and will remain a reliable and responsible partner,” the official stated.
“European imbeciles”
Medvedev claims the sanctions are a public display intended to declare victory, while the real result is a self-inflicted economic strain on Russia’s neighbors. He describes the move as a political gesture that does not reflect a genuine change in payment commitments, insisting that Russia would not concede or surrender its financial interests despite the sanctions.
He suggested that in the wake of sanctions, investment would suffer and that Europeans underestimate the resilience of the Russian economy. He warned that the sanctions mentality could erode confidence and investments, leaving markets skittish and buyers scarce on both domestic and international fronts.
100500 packages of sanctions
Medvedev also addressed the disconnection of Sberbank, Moscow Credit Bank and Rosselkhozbank from the SWIFT system. He argued that this move will not derail Russian financial activity because domestic transactions operate independently of SWIFT and continue normally. He invited observers to consider the broader pattern: the EU might push through yet another round of punitive measures, yet the reality on the ground suggests the economy adapts faster than expected.
According to him, EU officials misinterpret the impact of restrictions, and the broader economic trajectory in the bloc runs counter to the sensational anti-Russian narratives. He described the situation as a mismatch between rhetoric and reality, warning that continued sanctions could provoke unexpected responses from Moscow.
sixth pack
On May 31, reports indicated that EU members reached consensus on the sixth sanctions package against Russia. Charles Michel, head of the European Council, announced the inclusion of a gradual oil embargo. He stated that the measures would affect a large portion of Russian oil imports immediately and by the end of 2022 would restrict most Russian fuel entering Europe.
Details showed that the embargo primarily targets sea-borne oil, while pipeline supplies remain intact for the time being. Some exceptions were granted to a few EU states, including Hungary and the Czech Republic, which continued to buy Russian fuel, with temporary exemptions for Bulgaria and Croatia concerning offshore crude oil imports.
From June 14, the disconnection of Sberbank, Rosselkhozbank and Moscow Credit Bank from SWIFT would take effect. The EU also decided to halt the broadcasting of three Russian state channels—Rossiya 24, RTR-Planeta and TV-Center—in its territory. The package also named individuals deemed responsible for actions in Ukraine, with the sixth package entering into force on June 3.
In summary, while Western officials press on with sanctions and insurance bans aimed at tightening the squeeze on Moscow, the picture on the ground remains nuanced. Analysts note that the energy market, investment flows, and bilateral trade relationships are all evolving in response to these measures, and observers continue to watch how supply chains and financial networks adapt under pressure. The dialogue around sanctions continues to shape the economic landscape across Europe and beyond.