Europe has become the perfect example of political contradiction: while the continent’s governments They strongly condemn Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and promise exemplary sanctions, the figures reveal an uncomfortable reality. During 2024, Europe purchased record amounts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russiaconsolidating a dependency that fuels the conflict that they publicly say they reject.
According to data from Rystad Energy, Europe imported 17.8 million tons of Russian LNG in 2024an increase of more than 2 million tons compared to the previous year. This increase made Russia the second largest supplier of LNG on the continentsurpassing Qatar and only behind the United States. In addition, Europe received 49.5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas via gas pipelines and another 24.2 billion cubic meters in liquid form, part of which was resold to third countries.
This paradox highlights how sanctions imposed on Russia have strategic “holes” that allow European states continue financing, indirectly, the Russian war machine. Although the European Union has sharply reduced its pipeline imports of Russian gas since the start of the war, it has offset that decline with increasing purchases of LNG. The explanation is simple: Russia offers this fuel at discount prices compared to other suppliersand, in the absence of direct sanctions on LNG, European companies prioritize their own economic interest.
Broken commitments
While the EU has declared its intention to abandon Russian fossil fuels by 2027, its reluctance to sanction gas as it has oil and coal reflects a lack of policy coherence.. In 2024 alone, Russian LNG imports represented an expense of 7.32 billion euros, according to the Energy and Clean Air Research Center (Crea). This behavior undermines not only promised support for Ukraine, but also the bloc’s climate goals.
Ukraine, which recently stopped transporting Russian gas through its pipelines, has flagged “glaring loopholes” in the sanctions regime. Activists like Svitlana Romanko, founder of Razom We Stand, are demanding a complete ban on Russian LNG imports to cut off funding to Putin. According to Romanko, “record Russian LNG imports in 2024 demonstrate that the EU must act decisively to close the gaps in its sanctions regime.”
Empty rhetoric
Europe’s dependence on Russian gas reflects a disconnect between discourse and practice. As European leaders declare support for Ukraine, Money flows to Russia remain active, fueling both the war and the climate crisis. Recent reports have noted that toughening sanctions could reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with Russian fossil fuels by 25% by 2030. If these energies were replaced by renewable sources, emissions could fall by 300 million tons annually.
The EU has two paths: continue buying cheap energy from Russia, with the geopolitical and environmental consequences that this entails, or finally commit to a clean, safe energy future and, above all, consistent with the values it claims to defend. Hypocrisy has a price, and Europe seems to be paying with its credibility.
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