MOSCOW

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriyev on Monday joined Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in calling on the European Union (EU) to lift its ban on the import of Russian energy resources.

In a statement on US social media company X, Dmitriyev argued that European officials will have to reconsider their stance due to the Middle East situation.

"Peter, you're right, as always. Your proposal is very difficult because it will require European bureaucrats to reflect and understand how markets work -- and, most difficult of all, to admit their strategic mistakes and redeem themselves. And yet they will have to do it very soon," he said, endorsing Szijjarto's statement.

Earlier in the day, Szijjarto said: “With the war in the Middle East escalating and the Strait of Hormuz closed, a major share of global energy supply is now at risk.”

He also argued that maintaining sanctions on Russian energy would harm European citizens and the bloc’s economy.

“If Brussels keeps the sanctions in place, it will cause serious harm to European people and the European economy,” he said, adding that the EU should prioritize protecting the interests of Europeans, "not ideology."

Tension escalated across the region on Feb. 28 when the US and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran that have so far killed over 1,300 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries, which are home to US assets. Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz, a major transportation route for the exporters of energy resources.