EU paid more for oil and gas from russia than it helped Ukraine – The Guardian

The European Union spent EUR 22 billion on the procurement of gas and oil from the aggressor state of russia in 2024, while it allocated EUR 19 billion for financial assistance to Ukraine.

The Guardian reported this on Monday, February 24, citing a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea).

According to the publication, in 2024, Europe purchased EUR 22 billion worth of fossil fuels from russia, but allocated EUR 19 billion to support Kyiv, according to the report dedicated to the third anniversary of russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In percentage terms, it turns out that in calendar 2024, the EU spent 39% more on oil and gas imports from russia than it allocated for Ukraine.

"EU member states bought €21.9bn (£18.1bn) of Russian oil and gas in the third year of the war, according to estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), despite the efforts under way to kick the continent’s addiction to the fuels that fund Vladimir Putin’s war chest," the report says.

Vaibhav Raghunandan, a Crea analyst and co-author of the report, said purchasing russian fuel was a financial aid to the kremlin and funding for further invasion. He said the practice must end immediately to secure Ukraine's future and Europe's energy security.

The report also said russia had earned EUR 242 billion from global fossil fuel exports in the third year of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and that the aggressor's revenues since the start of the war were "now inching closer to the trillion figure" as the country adapts to sanctions.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on February 24, the European Union imposed the 16th package of sanctions against the aggressor state of russia on the third anniversary of the full-scale war.

At the same time, European officials are discussing the possibility of ending russia's war against Ukraine in exchange for the resumption of purchases of russian gas.

Recall that in January, 10 European Union countries proposed to strengthen sanctions against the aggressor state of russia by introducing further restrictions on natural gas.

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