European Union imports of Russian liquefied natural gas reached a new record in July, defying the bloc’s stated objective to phase out dependence on Moscow’s energy exports.
Data indicates that Belgium relied exclusively on Russian supplies for its LNG needs during the month, highlighting the persistent structural reliance on Russian gas despite tightening sanctions regimes.
The surge in volumes underscores the gap between political rhetoric and market reality in European energy procurement.
While the EU has moved toward a complete embargo on Russian fossil fuels, the physical infrastructure and contract obligations continue to drive record inflows.
This dynamic suggests that the transition away from Russian gas is proceeding more slowly than policymakers have publicly indicated.
Handelsavisen previously reported that EU imports of Russian natural gas had been climbing in the months leading up to the scheduled embargo, with significant volumes originating from the Yamal LNG facility.