French Imports of Russian LNG Surge Despite EU Efforts to Cut Ties

Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) shipments to France more than doubled in the first half of the year, despite Europe's attempts to reduce energy purchases supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis reported a 7% increase in EU LNG imports from Russia.

Shipments of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) to France more than doubled in the first half of this year, despite Europe's efforts to curb energy purchases funding the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.

While EU countries have restricted oil imports from Russia, natural gas remains permissible, posing a challenge to the continent's energy transition goals. The latest analysis from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) reveals that EU countries overall imported 7% more Russian LNG compared to the same period last year.

Oleh Savytskyi, founder of nonprofit Razom We Stand, criticized the EU's failure to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, stating that countries buying Russian LNG are undermining the energy transition and funding the war effort. However, European governments argue that a complete ban on Russian gas would escalate energy costs for consumers and industries.