EU has paid Russia $209 billion for hydrocarbons since the start of the war

EU countries have paid USD 209 billion (4,5 trillion Kč) for Russian hydrocarbons since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said so, according to AFP. She also stressed that the EU is working to end imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027.

The European Commission released the figure in response to a statement from Moscow on Monday. Russia said it had sold more than USD 320 billion worth of hydrocarbons to European countries since 2022, despite sanctions imposed on the country over its invasion of Ukraine. Russia highlighted its supplies to Europe after some European countries criticised a deal allowing the United States to import Russian diesel.

The Commission responded by publishing a lower figure and stressing that it is seeking to end all imports of Russian gas.

European countries’ criticism of the deal displeased Washington, where President Donald Trump’s administration is trying to bring down sharply rising fuel prices ahead of November’s congressional elections. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused European countries of hypocrisy on Sunday.

Since 2022, the EU has taken significant steps to reduce its long-standing dependence on Russian pipeline gas and weaken Moscow’s war chest. Total imports of Russian gas, which accounted for 45 percent of all imports in 2021, have fallen to 12 percent, Itkonen said.

However, the EU still uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipped by sea. Russia remains the region’s second-largest LNG supplier after the United States, accounting for roughly 17 percent of total imports. Several countries, including Slovakia and Hungary, also have an exemption allowing them to import Russian gas by pipeline.

On Monday, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard expressed regret in response to the figure released by Russia that the amount was higher than the 218,7 billion euros (5,3 trillion Kč) the EU has provided to support Ukraine since the start of the war.