The European Union paid about €7.9 billion for liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Arctic projects, according to figures highlighted in a report published on 9 October. The imports underline the gap between the EU’s commitment to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow and the continued role of Russian gas in European supply.
The issue is politically sensitive because Russia’s war against Ukraine has pushed the EU to diversify its energy sources. However, liquefied natural gas can still enter European markets through contracts and existing import infrastructure, even as the bloc seeks to reduce reliance on Russian energy over time.
Energy security, prices and the pace of the transition away from Russian supplies remain competing considerations for European governments. The figures are likely to intensify debate over how quickly the EU can translate its political commitments into a lasting reduction in imports.
The reported amount refers to payments for Russian Arctic LNG and should not be read as the value of all EU energy imports from Russia.
