EU Imports of Russian Gas Soar in 2025, Defying Sanctions

Despite sanctions, the European Union increased its imports of Russian natural gas in 2025. This surge in trade provided billions in funding to the Kremlin amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. The EU bought 40% more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia in 2025 than the year before. This LNG is gas cooled into liquid form for transport by ship. The purchases made Russia the EU's second-largest LNG supplier. A single port in Belgium received more Russian LNG last year than all of China. Overall, EU payments for Russian LNG and pipeline gas totaled an estimated €10 billion in 2025. This growing dependence comes as other suppliers, like the United States, reduced LNG deliveries to Europe. EU officials state the imports are legal under current sanctions, which do not ban Russian gas. Critics argue the revenues directly finance Russia's military. The trend highlights the challenge of balancing energy needs with the goal of weakening Russia's war economy. Europe's continued reliance on Russian energy remains a major point of geopolitical tension.