Russian Embassy Rejects EU Claims on Impact of Sanctions Against Russia

Jun 7, 2026 at 10:17 AM

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Lanka Leader

The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka has strongly rejected claims made by the Delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka regarding the effectiveness of sanctions imposed on Russia, describing the statements as "misleading" and "untrue."

In a press release issued on June 6, the Embassy responded to comments published by the EU Delegation on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The EU had asserted that sanctions were negatively affecting Russia's economy, citing declining oil and gas revenues, rising borrowing costs, shrinking export markets, and increasing difficulties in financing Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

The Russian Embassy disputed these claims, arguing that several European countries continue to maintain energy-related trade links with Russia. According to the statement, Italy, Spain, and Greece have increased their purchases of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), while Hungary and Slovakia intend to continue receiving Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. The Embassy also noted that the United Kingdom has agreed to continue purchasing petroleum products produced from Russian oil through third countries.

The Embassy further highlighted a range of economic indicators which it said demonstrate the resilience of the Russian economy. It stated that the European Union's public debt reached 81.7 percent of GDP in 2025, with Greece, Italy, France, and Belgium recording significantly higher debt levels. By comparison, Russia's public debt was reported at 16.4 percent of GDP.

Regarding budget deficits, the Embassy claimed that the EU's overall deficit stood at 3.1 percent of GDP in 2025, while several member states, including Poland, Belgium, and France, recorded even larger deficits. Russia's budget deficit, according to the statement, was 2.6 percent of GDP.

The Embassy also pointed to Russia's labor market performance, stating that the country's unemployment rate remains among the lowest in the industrialized world at approximately 2.2 percent. This compares with 2.5 percent in Japan and 5.9 percent across the eurozone, the statement said.

"Objective figures clearly show who is suffering more damage from sanctions," the Embassy stated, arguing that Western sanctions have failed to achieve their intended economic impact on Russia.

The statement also criticized EU support for Ukraine, calling on European leaders to stop what it described as misleading narratives about Russia's economy and to reconsider spending public funds on supporting the government in Kyiv.

Concluding its remarks, the Russian Embassy warned that it would respond firmly to what it characterized as attempts to promote anti-Russian messages or actions. The statement ended with the phrase: "If your house is made of glass, don't throw stone.

Full text of the press release...

PRESS RELEASE of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka

June 6, 2026 

On the misleading information made by the Delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka against the Russian Federation in social media "X" (former Twitter)

The Delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka has argued that sanctions against Russia are allegedly working: oil and gas revenues are falling, borrowing costs are rising, key markets are being lost, and financing the war against Ukraine is becoming increasingly difficult.

This claims are absolutely untrue and misleading. Italy, Spain, and Greece are increasing LNG purchases from Russia. Hungary and Slovakia intend to continue receiving Russian oil via the “Druzhba” pipeline. The United Kingdom has agreed for indefinite period to purchase petroleum products made from Russian oil from third countries.

In this regard, we would like to provide honest statistics: EU's public debt has risen to 81.7 percent of GDP in 2025. The worst figures are well known: Greece has 146%, Italy 137%, France 115%, and Belgium 108%. Russia, by the way, has just 16.4%.

The EU budget deficit in 2025 will be 3.1% of GDP. Countries with the highest deficits include Poland (7.3%), Belgium (5.2%), France (5.1%), and the United States (5.9%). Russia's is only 2.6%.

Russian Federation has one of the lowest unemployment rates among all industrialized countries - approximately 2.2% of the economically active population. In Japan, it's 2.5%, in the eurozone, 5.9%.

Objective figures clearly show who is suffering more damage from sanctions.

❗️It's high time for Brussels bureaucrats to stop misleading the international community about Russia's alleged economic collapse. It would be far more expedient to stop spending European taxpayers' money on supporting the corrupt, Nazi’ regime in Kiev.

The Embassy reserves its right to rigid reaction to any attempts to organize anti-Russian messages or actions. 

P.S. If your house is made of glass don’t throw stones.