Putin Ally Issues Grim Christmas Eve Message to Europe

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Europe when he issued a Christmas Eve message to the continent on Sunday.

Medvedev, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and also the country's former prime minister, slammed Europe's inflation rate as well as its support of Ukrainians. Europe's inflation rate jumped in February 2022 when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, sending global energy prices skyrocketing, although the rate has fallen in recent months.

Many European countries have united against Russia and offered support for Ukraine. But recently, countries that have helped Ukraine have begun to block aid to war-ravaged nation, including Hungary and the U.S., which blocked a $111 billion emergency spending bill with $50 billion in aid for Ukrainian war efforts this month.

Medvedev pointed out Europe's struggles, with a heavy focus on the continent's pro-Ukrainian actions, when he wished the area a Merry Christmas.

"Persistently high inflation and absence of economic growth, boycotting energy supplies from Russia and its market altogether, crowds of Ukrainians idly roaming the streets of Europe, with allowances higher than Europeans' pensions, degenerate politicians screaming of war between Ukraine and Russia till victory... Europe, hello! What is wrong with you, are you totally sick? Merry Christmas!" Medvedev posted on X, formerly Twitter.

In a follow-up post, Medvedev cited several news articles that reported on Europe's struggles with inflation, such as one by the controversial news network BNN that blamed European inflation for high Christmas meal prices in Germany. Medvedev also cited a BBC report that said the U.K.'s inflation rate was falling, but that at 3.9 percent, it was still nearly double the Bank of England's 2 percent target.

Medvedev's holiday wishes come only days after the European Union (EU) Council adopted the 12th sanctions package against Russia.

Newsweek reached out to the European Union Council by email for comment.

Medvedev's son, Ilya Medvedev, was among 61 people sanctioned last week after he was accused of "creating digital services in the illegally occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia." Putin's cousin, Anna Tsivileva, also was sanctioned. Russian state-run news agency Tass cited a diplomatic source in the EU as saying that sanctions imposed on Russia in response to Putin's war in Ukraine will not be lifted after the conflict ends.

Medvedev previously spoke of the global consequences following Russian sanctions, including when he predicted "the collapse of the idea of ​​an American-centric world" in May 2022.

Responses to Medvedev's comments wishes were varied, with some X users claiming that if "you stand with Ukraine, you go down the drain" and taking a stance against Europe.

"Europe is a doormat, a dirty one," one user said.

"Europe is a continent against itself," another added.

Others poked fun at Medvedev.

"From 'Europe will freeze in winter' to 'degenerate politicians screaming for war,' the evolution of MADvedev's speech," one user posted.

"Everything's going according to plan - eh, Dimi?" another posted with a clown emoji.