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(Reuters) – Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that a framework trade agreement struck between the European Union and the United States was “anti-Russian” likening it to a de facto ban on buying Russian oil and gas.
The U.S. struck the deal with the EU on Sunday, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in a statement afterwards that the agreement would help the bloc fully phase out Russian fossil fuels in favour of American alternatives.
“Purchases of U.S. energy products will diversify our sources of supply and contribute to Europe’s energy security. We will replace Russian gas and oil with significant purchases of U.S. LNG, oil and nuclear fuels,” von der Leyen said.
Russia has repeatedly said that U.S. LNG is much more costly than Russian LNG. The EU, which has imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow over its war in Ukraine, has long been trying to buy less Russian oil and gas.
Medvedev said Trump had “wiped the floor” with the EU, but that the agreement was not good for Russia either.
“Of course, the ‘deal’ is clearly anti-Russian in nature, prohibiting the purchase of our oil and gas,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram.
He predicted the fallout for Europe and its citizens would be damaging as they would have to pay more for their energy.
“One can only feel sorry for ordinary Europeans,” Medvedev said.
Reporting by Maxim Rodionov Editing by Andrew Osborn
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