Reuters: Some of Ukraine's allies in the EU have increased oil and LNG imports from Russia
LNG terminal in Belgium (EPA archive photo / YVES HERMAN)

Some of Ukraine's European allies have increased their imports of Russian energy. This was reported by Reuters.

The agency recalled that since 2022, when Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine began, the EU has reduced its dependence on energy from Russia by about 90%. Nevertheless, according to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), analyzed by Reuters, in the first eight months of 2025, the bloc's countries imported more than €11 billion worth of energy.

Seven out of 27 EU member states increased the value of their imports compared to the previous year, including five countries that support Ukraine in the war. For example, France increased its purchases of Russian energy resources by 40% to €2.2 billion, and the Netherlands by 72% to €498 million.

This year, the cost of Russian energy imports to Hungary increased by 11%, to Belgium by 3%, to Croatia by 55%, to Romania by 57%, and to Portugal by 167%.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is now the largest import of Russian energy to the EU, accounting for almost half of the total cost of purchases, according to.

The CREA noted that in 2021, the EU imported more than €133 billion worth of Russian oil and gas, and in January-August 2025 – €11.4 billion.

In total, since 2022, the EU has imported more than 213 billion euros worth of Russian energy, according to CREA data.

EU and Russia specialist at CREA Vaibhav Raghunandan called the increase in purchases "a form of self-sabotage" by some countries, given that it is the largest source of income for Russia.

"The Kremlin is literally receiving funding to continue deploying its armed forces in Ukraine," he said .

France's Energy Ministry told Reuters that the cost of the country's Russian energy imports has risen this year as it serves customers in other countries. Gas market data shows that France is sending part of its Russian imports to Germany, according to Kpler analysts.

The Dutch government has stated that while it supports EU plans to phase out Russian energy, until these proposals are enshrined in EU law, it cannot block existing contracts between European companies and Russian suppliers.

Belgium's Energy Ministry said the increase was due to separate EU sanctions banning the re-export of Russian LNG outside the bloc.

Portugal's Energy Ministry said that the country has imported only small amounts of Russian gas and that flows during the year will be lower than in 2024. The governments of Croatia and Romania did not respond to requests for comment on the data .

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