Maria Zakharova said it is difficult to say at this stage whether they are contented vassals or unhappy slaves MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. Europe is definitely losing its independence by banning Russian gas imports, however you want to frame it, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "It is difficult to say at this stage whether they are contented vassals or unhappy slaves. Time will tell. But in any case, they have given up their freedom," Zakharova said in an interview