The European Union increased purchases of Russian LNG by 29% in the first half of 2025

In the first half of 2025, the European Union purchased about €4.48 billion worth of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). About writes german weekly magazine Spiegel with reference to Eurostat data.

The EU's imports of Russian LNG in the first six months of 2025 were €3.47 billion (29%) higher than in the same period last year.

In total, in the first half of 2025, the EU imported LNG worth about €26.9 billion. Most of the gas – worth €13.7 billion – came from the United States, which was the largest supplier of LNG to the EU last year (almost 45% of all supplies).

Unlike oil and coal, the European Union has not yet imposed sanctions on Russian gas because of its heavy dependence on these supplies.

Part of the LNG comes to the EU through the TurkStream pipeline. In 2024, gas supplies from Russia accounted for about 19% of total natural and processed gas imports to the EU.

The European Commission proposes a complete rejection of Russian gas. Imports under long-term contracts are planned to be banned from January 1, 2028, and short-term contracts from June 17, 2026.

In addition, gas purchased under the new contracts by the end of 2025 will not be allowed to be imported from January 1, 2026. The decision is yet to be agreed upon by the EU countries and the European Parliament.

• Back in April, the EU rejected the idea of sanctions against imports of Russian liquefied natural gas. At the same time, Ukraine is counting on the EU's refusal from Russian LNG.
• Imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia to the EU countries in 2024 increased by 18%. At the same time, the volume of LNG supplies from the United States, Qatar, and Algeria to the EU decreased last year.