European Union imports of Russian natural gas increased during the first months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, defying the bloc's sanctions regime and a scheduled complete ban within the next year.
The data highlights the persistent structural reliance on Russian pipeline flows despite political efforts to decouple energy supplies.
08 billion cubic meters, a figure also 4% lower than the previous year.
The uptick in early-year volumes stands in stark contrast to recent monthly trends.
Russian gas exports to Europe fell 26% month-on-month in June, dropping to 1.08 billion cubic meters, a figure also 4% lower than the previous year.
This sharp contraction underscores the accelerating erosion of pipeline supply as the continent approaches the statutory deadline for a total embargo.
Market participants are closely monitoring the divergence between annual import totals and monthly flow rates.