Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, said on Thursday that Europe is suffering huge economic loss for giving up using Russian energy resources.
Dmitriev made the remarks at the ongoing 8th Russian Energy Week International Forum in Moscow.
"Russia is proactively developing partnerships around the world. Meanwhile, it is mainly European countries that have refused to use Russian energy. As a result, these countries are facing major economic problems. According to our estimates, the losses have exceeded 1 trillion euros and will continue to grow," he said.
The 8th Russian Energy Week International Forum is taking place in Moscow from Oct. 15 to 17, with the theme "Building the Energy of the Future Together."
At the plenary session of the Forum on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia boasts one of the "greenest" energy mixes worldwide and holds about 90 percent of the global nuclear power plant construction market.
The Russian president also highlighted the country's status in the global nuclear power plant construction market, saying that Russia will deepen nuclear industry cooperation with countries of the Global South and within the framework of BRICS.
He also stressed that the country plans to consolidate its leading position in the global energy sector and establish a fair and sustainable global energy development model through the development of partnerships.
Europe suffers huge economic losses after giving up using Russian energy resources: Russian envoy
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
