Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian President's Special Representative for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, recently stated on social media that the European Union and the United Kingdom will face a fuel crisis within two to three weeks and will be forced to implement a rationing system to regulate supply.

"According to forecasts, fuel rationing in the UK and the EU is imminent. The crisis will become clearly evident within two to three weeks," Dmitriev wrote on Platform X on the 21st, adding, "The reality is harsh."

He also posted a photo featuring European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, among others. "Remember these people when you're at the gas station," he wrote.

On February 28, the United States and Israel jointly launched military strikes against Iran, triggering severe turmoil in the Middle East and causing significant fluctuations in the global energy market. Many countries are experiencing shortages in oil and gas supply and soaring prices. European nations, already grappling with natural gas supply tensions due to the prolonged Ukraine crisis and a sharp reduction in Russian energy imports, now face even greater challenges. Although the 32 member countries of the International Energy Agency recently agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil reserves, industry analysts believe this amount can only offset about 20 days of reduced oil supply caused by the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, which is far from sufficient.

In the European market, aviation fuel prices have surged to around $220 per barrel, leading to significant increases in airfare. In the United States, the average retail price of gasoline has risen by over $1 compared to the level on February 28, reaching approximately $4 per gallon.