Even as NATO allies increase defense spending, arm Ukraine and impose sanctions aimed at weakening the Kremlin, European Union countries haven’t yet been able to shake dependence on Russian liquefied natural gas, providing Russia with a key source of revenue as it wages war in Ukraine.
A new analysis of commercial shipping data shows European countries spent billions in the first half of 2026 on purchases of Arctic liquefied natural gas. Environmental watchdog Urgewald, using trade intelligence platform Kpler shipping data, found that 136 cargoes of the 140 cargoes exported from Russia’s flagship Yamal liquefied natural gas project between January and June were delivered to European Union ports.Â
China, once viewed as a major market for the Arctic project, received just four cargoes during the same period, the analysis found.Â
The group estimated those shipments were worth roughly â¬5.96 billion, or about $6.8 billion, based on benchmark European natural gas prices.
The figures expose one of the central contradictions confronting Europe four years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: While European governments have pledged to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels and cut off a key source of the Kremlin’s revenue, significant payments for Russian liquefied natural gas continue flowing during the bloc’s transition away from Russian energy.
The analysis found French ports were the destination for 51 cargoes from the Yamal liquefied natural gas project, followed by Belgium with 37 and Spain with 34 during the first six months of the year, according to the analysis. The figures reflect deliveries to ports rather than the nationality of the companies purchasing the liquefied natural gas or its ultimate destination within the European market, a spokesperson with France’s embassy in Washington emphasized.Â
The findings also come as NATO allies have committed to sharply increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the challenge of simultaneously strengthening Europe’s military deterrence while significant energy revenues continue flowing to Moscow.
The European Union has adopted legislation to phase out Russian gas imports in stages, with a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas under long-term contracts taking effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and a ban on Russian pipeline gas under long-term contracts following on Sept. 30, 2027. While pipeline gas imports from Russia have fallen sharply since 2022, Russian liquefied natural gas has remained a significant source of supply for several European countries.
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President Donald Trump has criticized Europe for its continued dependence on Russian fuel sources.Â
“Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine, by far,” Trump said during his March 4, 2025, address to a joint session of Congress.Â
European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said the increase likely reflected “frontloaded deliveries and adjustments to contractual arrangements ahead of tighter restrictions,” noting that the ban on new Russian gas contracts only took effect in March and that most remaining imports are under long-term con
