EU Remains Major Buyer Of Russian Fossil Fuels Despite Phase-Out Pledge (Worthy News Investigation)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The European Union remained the world’s fourth-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in June despite its pledge to phase out Russian energy imports by 2027, according to data reviewed by Worthy News.

Those purchases have drawn criticism because they continue to generate revenue for Russia as it wages war against Ukraine.

According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the EU accounted for nearly 11 percent of the 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion) Russia earned from its five largest fossil-fuel customers during the month.

More than half of the EU’s purchases—about 993 million euros ($1.15 billion)—consisted of liquefied natural gas (LNG), while roughly a quarter came through pipeline gas. Another 22 percent was crude oil delivered through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.

HUNGARY’S ENERGY DEPENDENCE

Hungary remains the European Union’s second-most dependent country on Russian fossil fuels, while Slovakia also continues to rely heavily on Russian oil and gas despite efforts to diversify supplies.

Budapest has argued that an immediate end to Russian energy imports would threaten the country’s energy security and economy, and has repeatedly sought exemptions from European Union sanctions and other measures affecting Russian oil and gas imports.

However, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has said his government wants to reduce that dependence over time by expanding renewable energy, including lifting restrictions on wind power projects, while also diversifying Hungary’s energy supplies.

Although EU imports of Russian LNG fell 5 percent from May, they were 14 percent higher than a year earlier, enabling Moscow to earn an estimated 60 million euros ($69 million) per day from LNG exports to Europe, data showed.

FRENCH LNG IMPORTS SURGE

France recorded the largest increase in Russian LNG shipments, with imports rising 34 percent from the previous month, according to CREA.

The think tank warned that Russian LNG imports remained above June 2025 levels despite the European Union’s ban on new short-term Russian LNG supply contracts, which took effect in April. Contracts concluded before June 17, 2025, remain exempt under the bloc’s REPowerEU rules.

CREA said the figures underscore “the need for strict enforcement and transparency” to ensure the restrictions are not undermined by continued imports under legacy contracts.

The findings come as Europe’s energy market faces additional uncertainty over tensions in the Middle East, including disruption risks around the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns that supply pressures could complicate the European Union’s goal of ending Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.

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