The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka has issued a series of press releases responding to recent statements by the European Union Delegation in Sri Lanka, intensifying its public criticism over sanctions, economic claims, and the conflict in Ukraine. In its latest statement dated June 15, 2026, the Embassy said it was responding to what it described as “recent statements” by the EU Delegation and recommended that the European Union focus on its own internal challenges, including inflation, uncontrolled migration, economic stagnation, erosion of unity, bureaucracy, and deindustrialization. The Embassy further stated that “no illegal sanctions” would prevent what it described as a “resounding victory over the Nazi Kiev regime and its sponsors in the EU,” referencing Ukraine and European Union states.
In an earlier press release dated June 6, 2026, the Embassy addressed what it said were EU Delegation claims made on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, asserting that sanctions against Russia were effective. According to the EU Delegation’s position as cited by the Embassy, sanctions were allegedly reducing Russian oil and gas revenues, increasing borrowing costs, and limiting access to key markets. The Russian Embassy rejected these claims as “absolutely untrue and misleading,” and stated that several EU countries, including Italy, Spain, and Greece, were increasing liquefied natural gas purchases from Russia. It also claimed that Hungary and Slovakia intended to continue receiving Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, while the United Kingdom had agreed to continue purchasing petroleum products refined from Russian oil through third countries.
The June 6 statement also presented a series of economic indicators attributed to the Embassy. It said that public debt in the European Union had risen to 81.7 percent of GDP in 2025, listing Greece at 146 percent, Italy at 137 percent, France at 115 percent, and Belgium at 108 percent. By comparison, it stated that Russia’s public debt stood at 16.4 percent. The Embassy further cited EU budget deficit figures for 2025 at 3.1 percent of GDP, identifying Poland at 7.3 percent, Belgium at 5.2 percent, France at 5.1 percent, and the United States at 5.9 percent, while stating Russia’s deficit was 2.6 percent.
In the same release, the Embassy said Russia’s unemployment rate was approximately 2.2 percent of the economically active population, comparing it with Japan at 2.5 percent and the eurozone at 5.9 percent. It argued that these figures demonstrated differing levels of economic impact, stating that “objective figures” showed which side was suffering greater damage from sanctions.
The Embassy also urged what it called an end to what it described as misleading narratives about Russia’s economic condition and suggested that European funds should not be used to support what it referred to as the “corrupt, Nazi’ regime in Kiev.” It added that the Embassy reserved the right to a “rigid reaction” to any attempts to organize anti-Russian messaging or actions, and included a warning phrase stating, “If your house is made of glass don’t throw stones.”
A further press release dated May 14, 2026, also addressed EU Delegation statements on social media, accusing the European Union of supporting the Ukrainian government. It alleged that European taxpayers’ money was being misused in support of Ukraine’s leadership and referenced internal political controversies, including “Mindichgate” and the former chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Andrey Yermak. The Embassy described EU positions as demonstrating “double standards” and reiterated that it reserved the right to a tough response to what it characterized as anti-Russian messaging or actions.
Across all three statements, the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka framed its responses as direct rebuttals to EU Delegation comments, while repeatedly raising allegations regarding sanctions policy, European economic conditions, and Western support for Ukraine.
