From January to August 2025, European Union countries imported oil and gas from Russia worth over 11 billion euros, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), cited by Reuters. Among the states that have significantly increased their purchases of Russian energy products are not only Slovakia and Hungary, but also France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which at the same time declare their support for Ukraine.
Billions from Europe for Putin’s armament
Since 2022, European Union countries have reduced their dependence on Russian energy resources by about 90 percent. Despite these efforts, EU member states imported oil and gas from Russia worth more than 11 billion euros in the first eight months of 2025.
Seven countries, including France (+40%), the Netherlands (+72%), Belgium (+3%), Croatia (+55%), Romania (+57%), and Portugal (+167%), have increased their imports of Russian energy resources despite supporting Ukraine.
In absolute terms, the largest importer of Russian oil and gas remains Hungary (around 3 billion euros). Together with Bratislava, Budapest purchased energy resources worth 5 billion euros. France, meanwhile, spent 2.2 billion euros, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands – 498 million euros.
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, since 2022 EU countries have imported Russian energy worth 213 billion euros. By comparison, those same states have provided aid to Ukraine amounting to 167 billion euros.
As columnist Paweł Sokala noted on the social media platform X, “Data on direct imports show only part of the picture.” He pointed out that “EU countries are massively purchasing petroleum products made from Russian oil through third countries such as Turkey and India. In any case, despite its combative rhetoric, Europe continues to transfer more money to Russia to wage war against Ukraine than it gives to Ukraine to defend itself from Russia,” Sokala stated.