EU imports more gas from Russia

Despite the Russian attack war against Ukraine, the EU imported more gas from Russia last year. The plus was 18 percent compared to 2023, as the Ember thought factory calculated. Both gas that came into the EU through pipelines and liquid gas (LNG) are taken into account.

The EU had imposed numerous sanctions against Russian energy sources such as coal and oil in February 2022 after the Russian attack on Ukraine, which was contrary to international law. By 2027, the community of states no longer wants to import gas from Russia, but this project is not legally binding. Since the turn of the year, Ukraine no longer has had Russian natural gas passed and has prevented the transit through pipelines about its territory.

More gas, less demand

According to Ember, Italy, the Czech Republic and France have increasingly moved into gas from Russia. In 2025, the imports also continued to increase, the think tank continued. However, this is not necessary. Because demand in the EU was not at all. In addition, gas prices in 2024 increased by almost 60 percent, it was said in the document.

« It is a scandal that the EU is still importing Russian gas, » says Pawel Czyzak from Ember. « Instead of investing in real alternatives such as renewable energies and efficiency to prevent Russian imports, Member States burn money with expensive LNG capacities that are not even used. » Ember predicts an oversupply for 2030.

The EU wants to become independent of fossil energies from Russia. That is still a priority, said EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen in an interview. The EU Commission is currently working on a timetable to do without Russian fossil energy. It will be presented in the coming weeks.

In the « Handelsblatt », Jørgensen criticized the behavior of the Member States. « It is completely unsustainable to continue to buy fossil fuels from Russia and thus indirectly fill Putin’s war treasury, » said the energy commissioner. « Since the beginning of the war we have spent so much money on fossil fuels from Russia as 2,400 F-35 fight jets would cost. »

Liquid gas from Russia is further introduced to the EU. Only investments in LNG projects under construction in Russia, as well as exports in favor of these projects are prohibited. EU ports must also not be used to ship Russian LNG in third countries.

Without Russian gas, security of supply would not be ensured

According to Ember, however, the security of supply would not be ensured if the EU would not lose a Russian gas at all. The think tank warns that other foreign sources have become increasingly unstable. Geopolitical tensions with the USA increased the risk of relying on LNG deliveries from there, it said.

The largest gas suppliers of the EU are currently Norway and the United States. Since gas will continue to be used in Europe in the next few years, the EU Commission wants to intensify energy relationships with the United States. You try to diversify as much as possible, but there are not many alternatives for the purchase of LNG, said EU energy commissioner Jørgensen. Despite tense diplomatic relationships about the Atlantic, one could talk about these topics.