EU expenditure on Russian energy surpasses aid to Ukraine, says Trump
According to industry data, the EU has persistently depended on energy imports from the sanctioned country. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The European Union has been increasing its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, despite the imposition of sanctions, according to industry data.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the EU is investing more in Russian fossil fuels than in assistance to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
Following heightened hostilities in 2022 and the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, the EU focused on decreasing its dependency on Russian energy. While some member states chose to stop importing Russian pipeline gas, others continued to purchase LNG, which has been only partially impacted by sanctions.
In a Truth Social post late on Monday, Trump asserted without providing specific figures that “Europe has spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine —BY FAR!”
Earlier, Trump criticized European leaders for acknowledging their need for US support to sustain their backing of Ukraine.
According to estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, released last month on the third anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, EU member states purchased €21.9 billion worth of Russian oil and gas in 2024, despite efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
This amount exceeds the $20 billion 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 recognized that Russian energy continues to reach the EU, despite the bloc's commitment to ending its dependence on such sources.
Data from analytics firm Kpler indicates that imports of Russian LNG by EU member states have surged to an all-time high. In the first half of 2024, Russia was the second-largest supplier of LNG to the bloc, following the US. Brussels has not imposed a complete ban on Russian LNG in its 16th sanctions package against Moscow, which was enacted last month.
In response to ongoing negotiations regarding peace in Ukraine between Moscow and Washington, Brussels is reportedly planning a military aid package for Kiev valued at a minimum of $6.2 billion, expected to include 1.5 million artillery shells along with air defense systems.
On Monday, news agencies, citing American officials, reported that Trump had directed the US Defense Department to halt all military aid to Ukraine after his public confrontation with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump has consistently accused Zelensky of undermining his attempts to facilitate a peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow. Their recent meeting in the Oval Office ended in an unprecedented shouting match, after which Trump claimed that the Ukrainian leader had been disrespectful to the US.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the EU is investing more in Russian fossil fuels than in assistance to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
Following heightened hostilities in 2022 and the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, the EU focused on decreasing its dependency on Russian energy. While some member states chose to stop importing Russian pipeline gas, others continued to purchase LNG, which has been only partially impacted by sanctions.
In a Truth Social post late on Monday, Trump asserted without providing specific figures that “Europe has spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine —BY FAR!”
Earlier, Trump criticized European leaders for acknowledging their need for US support to sustain their backing of Ukraine.
According to estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, released last month on the third anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, EU member states purchased €21.9 billion worth of Russian oil and gas in 2024, despite efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
This amount exceeds the $20 billion 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 recognized that Russian energy continues to reach the EU, despite the bloc's commitment to ending its dependence on such sources.
Data from analytics firm Kpler indicates that imports of Russian LNG by EU member states have surged to an all-time high. In the first half of 2024, Russia was the second-largest supplier of LNG to the bloc, following the US. Brussels has not imposed a complete ban on Russian LNG in its 16th sanctions package against Moscow, which was enacted last month.
In response to ongoing negotiations regarding peace in Ukraine between Moscow and Washington, Brussels is reportedly planning a military aid package for Kiev valued at a minimum of $6.2 billion, expected to include 1.5 million artillery shells along with air defense systems.
On Monday, news agencies, citing American officials, reported that Trump had directed the US Defense Department to halt all military aid to Ukraine after his public confrontation with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump has consistently accused Zelensky of undermining his attempts to facilitate a peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow. Their recent meeting in the Oval Office ended in an unprecedented shouting match, after which Trump claimed that the Ukrainian leader had been disrespectful to the US.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
