Three and 1/2 years into Russia‘s full-scale war against Ukraine, Europe is still helping pay for it. Since the invasion, the European Union has imported more than €213 billion ($247 billion USD) worth of Russian energy supplies, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. That is more than the total aid the political bloc has given to Ukraine, €167 billion ($194 billion USD), in military, financial, and humanitarian assistance.

Cargo shipments of Russian liquefied natural gas to the EU hit record levels in 2024. The bloc has continued purchasing this gas at an unprecedented pace throughout 2025. The EU has banned Russian oil and refined fuels, but not natural gas, allowing imports to continue largely untouched. Despite sanctions, Russian gas imports into the EU rose 30% in the first half of 2025 compared to last year.