Media outlet celebrates Vladimir Putin for speeding up the 'green revolution' — but makes ironic admission

Politico Europe is celebrating Russian President Vladimir Putin for accelerating the "green revolution."

Wait, seriously?

The news outlet published its inaugural "Green 28" list of the "power players" driving Europe's push to fight climate change and transition to so-called "green energy." This year, the outlet named Putin the most influential figure.

"It took a war criminal to speed up Europe’s green revolution," Politico Europe said.

"By invading Ukraine and manipulating energy supplies to undermine European support for Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin has achieved something generations of green campaigners could not — clean energy is now a fundamental matter of European security," the outlet added.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which forced Western countries to enact heavy sanctions on Moscow, indeed exposed Europe's over-reliance on Russian oil.

That dependence laid bare Europe's energy vulnerabilities, which has generated a "green surge," according to Politico Europe.

"We will look back at this situation in 10 years time and see, OK, that was the moment where we really got serious about the green transition and we really had the big green acceleration," said Simone Tagliapietra, a climate and energy policy expert.

Ironically, the article even admitted that Europe's energy crisis has driven a new reliance on coal power, which will cause "a surge in emissions."

What was the reaction?

Celebrating Putin's "achievement" earned Politico Europe widespread mockery online, especially considering that Europe has increased its use of coal.

• "Politico continues to trash what was once a decent reputation with appalling takes such as this. This argument is mind-bogglingly bad. I’m astounded they signed-off on this. Astounded," journalist Mike Butcher said.
• "You've just got to wonder how many times the people making this list looked at it and said 'we're on the right side of the line, yeah? It still makes sense, right?'" journalist Mike Bird observed.
• "Germany just shut down its most effective 'clean' energy source, nuclear, and ramped up its coal use. What are you even talking about?" commentator David Harsanyi noted.
• "Next up in Politico EU hot takes: China's brutal treatment of Uyghur males lands the CCP the top slot in feminist advancement," one person mocked.
• "Politico's next article: 'Hitler, by committing various crimes against humanity, finally pushed the world to adopt the Geneva Convention,'" another person mocked.
• "Hey @POLITICOEurope : Putin on your 'green' list is odious. Repulsive. Revolting. Deceitful. Disgusting. 'It took a war criminal'? It’s also wrong: Europe isn’t quitting FFs. It’s burning as much coal as it can," another person pointed out.
• "If by 'breaking a fossil fuel addiction' you mean people are going to freeze today this winter then sure," Katie Pavlich mocked.
• "Proof -- if proof were needed -- that green politics is insane, cynical, callous and dangerous," writer Ben Pile observed.