EU expenditure on Russian energy surpasses aid to Ukraine, according to Trump
Industry data reveals that the EU has maintained its dependence on energy imports from the sanctioned country. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The bloc has been increasing its LNG imports from the sanctioned nation, as indicated by industry data.
US President Donald Trump has asserted that the European Union is spending more on Russian fossil fuel purchases than on aid for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
As hostilities escalated in 2022 and the Nord Stream pipelines were sabotaged, the EU made reducing its dependence on Russian energy a priority. Some member states voluntarily halted imports of Russian pipeline gas, while others continued to purchase LNG, which faced only partial sanctions.
In a post on Truth Social late Monday, Trump claimed without providing specific figures that “Europe has spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine —BY FAR!”
Trump also criticized European leadership in a previous post for acknowledging their need for US support to continue aiding Ukraine.
Recent estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, released last month on the third anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, indicated that EU member states spent €21.9 billion on Russian oil and gas in 2024, despite efforts to lessen this reliance.
This total surpasses the $20 billion that the bloc allocated to Kiev in financial aid last year, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen has previously stated that Russian energy continues to reach the EU despite the bloc's commitment to cutting its dependency.
Data from analytics firm Kpler shows that imports of Russian LNG by EU member states have reached an all-time high, with Russia becoming the second-largest supplier of this super-chilled fuel to the bloc after the US in the first half of 2024. Brussels refrained from implementing a complete ban on Russian LNG in its 16th package of sanctions imposed on Moscow last month.
In relation to ongoing peace negotiations between Moscow and Washington concerning Ukraine, Brussels is reportedly preparing a military aid package of at least $6.2 billion for Kiev, which is expected to include 1.5 million artillery shells and air defense systems.
On Monday, news agencies reported, citing American officials, that Trump has directed the US Defense Department to pause all military aid to Ukraine following a public disagreement with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump has repeatedly accused Zelensky of impeding his efforts to facilitate a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow. Their recent meeting in the Oval Office ended with an unprecedented shouting match, after which Trump stated that the Ukrainian leader had been disrespectful to the US.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump has asserted that the European Union is spending more on Russian fossil fuel purchases than on aid for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
As hostilities escalated in 2022 and the Nord Stream pipelines were sabotaged, the EU made reducing its dependence on Russian energy a priority. Some member states voluntarily halted imports of Russian pipeline gas, while others continued to purchase LNG, which faced only partial sanctions.
In a post on Truth Social late Monday, Trump claimed without providing specific figures that “Europe has spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine —BY FAR!”
Trump also criticized European leadership in a previous post for acknowledging their need for US support to continue aiding Ukraine.
Recent estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, released last month on the third anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, indicated that EU member states spent €21.9 billion on Russian oil and gas in 2024, despite efforts to lessen this reliance.
This total surpasses the $20 billion that the bloc allocated to Kiev in financial aid last year, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen has previously stated that Russian energy continues to reach the EU despite the bloc's commitment to cutting its dependency.
Data from analytics firm Kpler shows that imports of Russian LNG by EU member states have reached an all-time high, with Russia becoming the second-largest supplier of this super-chilled fuel to the bloc after the US in the first half of 2024. Brussels refrained from implementing a complete ban on Russian LNG in its 16th package of sanctions imposed on Moscow last month.
In relation to ongoing peace negotiations between Moscow and Washington concerning Ukraine, Brussels is reportedly preparing a military aid package of at least $6.2 billion for Kiev, which is expected to include 1.5 million artillery shells and air defense systems.
On Monday, news agencies reported, citing American officials, that Trump has directed the US Defense Department to pause all military aid to Ukraine following a public disagreement with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump has repeatedly accused Zelensky of impeding his efforts to facilitate a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow. Their recent meeting in the Oval Office ended with an unprecedented shouting match, after which Trump stated that the Ukrainian leader had been disrespectful to the US.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
