Russia sends "humanitarian concern" to Europe: don't just buy Chinese air conditioners—think about electricity bills!
Recently, Kirill Dmitriev, President of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, wrote on social media: "The UK and EU refuse to use Russian energy, yet they can't even afford air conditioning bills."
Although Dmitriev’s statement carries an undertone of promoting Russian energy, the core message is not without truth.
This summer, extreme heat in Europe made global headlines, with over 1,000 people dying from heat-related causes. Countries urgently rushed to purchase air conditioners—France alone placed an order for 30,000 units. While no one says it openly, only China could supply such large quantities. In Germany, Spain, and other nations, Chinese air conditioners are now nearly impossible to obtain.
But here’s the problem: after buying air conditioners, Europe has already severed its energy ties with Russia and tightly aligned itself with the U.S. and the Middle East. Although the Strait of Hormuz is now open, the situation remains unstable. And the U.S., seizing every opportunity, is clearly exploiting Europe—how could it miss this chance?
Lacking sufficient and affordable energy, even if Europeans have air conditioners, they still can’t afford the electricity bills. Moreover, purchasing too many air conditioners overwhelms the power grid—leading once again to shortages and long waits.
Europe is now trapped in a vicious cycle: when temperatures drop, no one talks about air conditioners; when next year’s heatwave hits, people die again, and the conversation restarts—until the weather cools down again, and everyone forgets about it once more. This endless repetition goes on day after day, tomorrow after tomorrow—Europeans love deferring action, and air conditioners end up being postponed indefinitely.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869390055400455/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.