European countries, including France, are the loudest advocates of Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
At the same time, more of them increased the import of Russian energy, which flows billions of euros in the Moscow’s war economy.
In the fourth year of war, the European Union remains in the paradoxical position of financing both sides of the conflict – on one side sends military and humanitarian aid to Kiev, and the other paid oil and gas.
Although since 2022. reduced the dependence on Russian energy by about 90 percent, in the first eight months of this year, more than 11 billion euros of Russian energy, according to the analysis of Reuters and the Finnish Energy and Pure Air Research Center (CREE).
Seven of 27 members of the European Union increased the value of imports compared to last year, including five countries supporting Ukraine. France, for example, increased imports by 40 percent to 2.2 billion euros, while the Netherlands recorded a growth of 72 percent to 498 million euros.
LNG terminals in France and Spain serve as inbound points for Russian gas, which is then distributed across the EU.
Vaibhav Raghunandan from Crea described increased imports as a “form of self-promotion”, given that the sales of energy is the main source of revenue for Russia in the rule of war against Ukraine supported by Europe.
– Kremlin literally got funds to continue the military operation in Ukraine, “he said.
Payments of the EU for Russian energy are back in the magnifying point after the US President Donald Trump last month in the Speech in the UN General Assembly called on European leaders to immediately suspend such purchases.
– Europe must be running. I can’t buy Russian oil and gas while fighting Russia. That’s embarrassing, “Trump said.
The French Ministry of Energy stated that the growth of imports is the consequences of customer service in other countries, while data suggest that part of the gas ends in Germany.
The Dutch government states that it supports the EU plan for the gradual abolition of Russian energy, but that it cannot block existing contracts until legal measures are adopted.
The EU has already banned most of the imports of Russian crude oil and fuel, and now plans to accelerate the ban on the import of Russian LNG with 2028. At 2027. Year. Year. Year. Year. LNG currently makes almost half of the total value of russian energy imports.
The European Commission did not comment on data for 2025. year, but the Energy Commissioner stated that the gradual retreat was designed to avoid jumping prices and shortages.
Planned complete prohibition by 2028. So European money could continue to support Russian war effort for a maximum of one year. Trump claims that American oil and gas can replace Russian delivery, although it would increase EU dependence on the US at the time when Washington uses customs as a political tool. Anne-Sophie Corbeau from the Columbia’s Global Energy Policy, warns that it is illusory to expect to replace American LNG to replace Russian.
– American LNG is in the hands of private companies that do not follow the commands of the White House or the European Commission, “she said.
The EU is 2021. year, before the invasion, more than 133 billion euros of Russian energy imported. In the period January-August this year, the account was 11.4 billion euros – a decrease of 21 percent compared to the same period 2024. Hungary and Slovakia, which maintain close links with the Kremlin, remain large importers, with a total of 5 billion euros. They would not be affected by planned sanctions on LNG as they could still receive Russian gas through pipelines by 2028.
Hungary is among the countries that increased imports by 11 percent, while France and the Netherlands are in this company with Belgium (3 percent), Croatian (55 percent), Romania (57 percent) and Portugal (167 percent).
The Belgian Ministry of Energy explained import growth as a result of EU sanctions that banned LNG’s reexports outside the block, so the gas must be landed in Belgium. Portugal claims to import small quantities and that total flows will be lower than 2024. Croatia and Romania did not comment on data.
The total import of Russian energy in the EU from 2022 is more than 213 billion euros, which surpass the amount of assistance to Ukraine in the same period – 167 billion euros, according to Kiel Institute.
Among the largest importers of the Russian LNG are French Totalenergies, British Shell, Spanish Naturgy, German Safe and Gunvor Trade House. Everybody operates on long-term contracts that last up to 2030s or 2040s. Totalenergies stated that it continues the delivery from the Russian plant Yamal until the EU introduces official sanctions. Shell, Naturgy and Gunvor refused to comment.
Ronald Pinto from Kpler says companies do not want to risk penalties for violating contracts without a solid legal basis.
– Finally, LNG is buying market actors, non-state, and mostly hold their long-term contracts – he said.
Flow studies show that French LNG often goes pipelines to Belgium, and then in Germany, where there is a high demand industry. Pinto warns that “impossible to accurately follow the movement of gas molecules within the European network”. The SEFE spokesman, managed by ten percent of the German network, confirmed that the company imports Russian gas through France and Belgium. The German Ministry of Economy led to welcome EU efforts to reduce the import of Russian fossil fuels, but that the Sefe is bound by a long-term contract with Yamal without the ability of termination.
– According to the contract “Take or pay”, the Sefe would have to pay agreed quantities even if it does not take delivery. Non-acceptance would allow Yamal to sell those quantities to others, which would be supported by the Russian economy twice – said the spokesman.
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
