Russian gas continues to flow widely to the EU

Luc Williams

In 2025, Europe is buying Russian gas at an unprecedented rate. Data collected by Kpler and analyzed by Politico shows that in the first 15 days of 2025, 27 European Union countries imported 837,300 tons of liquefied natural gas from Russiaspending billions of dollars that the Kremlin can use to finance the war in Ukraine.

Last year, in the same period, Community countries purchased 760,100 tons of LNG from Russia.

The record growth is fueling concerns that Western countries are not doing enough to cut off supplies from Russia and reduce Russian revenues as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year in just over a month.

End of the transit agreement

On January 1, the breakthrough agreement allowing Russia to pump gas to the EU ended via pipelines running through Ukraine. Kiev has declared that it will not negotiate the extension of the transit agreement thanks to which Russia has funds to attack their country.

However, the lack of pipeline-delivered gas has put more pressure on countries to buy LNG by sea.

Several countries, including Slovakia and Hungary, found themselves in a particularly difficult situation, that were dependent on the Ukrainian supply route. The Prime Minister was the most active in pushing for the renewal of the transit agreement Slovakia, warning that they will have to spend more on more expensive LNG.

It is difficult to cut yourself off from Russian gas

According to Charles Costerousse, senior LNG analyst at Kpler quoted by Politico, 95 to 96 percent of Russian LNG arriving in Europe comes from the Yamal plant. As the analyst notes, most of these volumes are long-term contractsso it is not the case that the EU is buying additional spot loads. This previously contracted loads arrive.

Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, said efforts to push Moscow out of its share of coal, oil and gas imports have already “broke Russia’s control over the European energy system“.

However, despite these significant results, Russian energy is still present in the EU, and gas imports from Russia, including LNG imports, increased in 2024. According to the EC spokeswoman, “this raises serious concerns”. The Commission’s plans to develop a “road map” aimed at aimed at ending Russian energy imports, is scheduled to be published at the end of February.

Separately, 10 EU countries, including Poland, are calling on the bloc to impose sanctions on Russian LNG, which was purchased in huge quantities after Moscow began cutting off pipeline deliveries.

About LUC WILLIAMS

Luc's expertise lies in assisting students from a myriad of disciplines to refine and enhance their thesis work with clarity and impact. His methodical approach and the knack for simplifying complex information make him an invaluable ally for any thesis writer.