Moscow said that European Union (EU) countries have purchased about $321 billion worth of Russia’s energy resources since 2022, despite sanctions the bloc announced over the Ukraine war.
European countries purchased another $21.3 billion worth of Russian hydrocarbons during the first nine months of 2026, according to Moscow.
“For the period from 2022 to today, this figure amounts to $320.7 billion. This is the volume of energy resource deliveries to European Union countries,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of energy Alexander Novak said.
The EU has imposed numerous sanctions on Russia since the Ukraine war began in 2022, but members continue importing some Russian hydrocarbons, particularly liquefied natural gas.
Slovakia and Hungary also benefit from exemptions allowing Russian pipeline oil purchases. Novak said these exemptions permit some Russian energy supplies to continue and predicted Russian oil exports could reach pre-war levels by year-end. The $320.7 billion total excludes Russian output reaching Europe indirectly after processing in countries such as India or Turkey. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard contrasted Moscow’s figure with the $244 billion in support the EU has provided to Ukraine since the war began.
The figures highlight tensions between Europe’s efforts to economically isolate Moscow and its continued reliance on Russian energy. Stenergard argued that using frozen Russian sovereign assets could almost double the EU’s total support for Kyiv, calling such a move a potential “game-changer.” The dispute also exposes friction with Washington after European countries criticized the U.S. agreement to import Russian diesel. President Donald Trump defended the decision by pointing to Europe’s Russian energy purchases, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused European governments of “hypocrisy.” The competing criticism places continued Western purchases of Russian energy alongside broader efforts to financially pressure Moscow and support Ukraine. (AFP+EIR)
