EU paid Russia for gas and oil more than allocated assistance to Ukraine - The Guardian

According to the Center for Energy and Pure Air Research (CREA), the EU countries have bought Russian oil and gas for the third year of a full -scale war for the third year of a full -scale war. The tracker of the IFW Kiel Kiel Institute provides data that in 2024 provided Ukraine with financial assistance to EUR 18. 7 billion, which is one six less than the Russian Federation for energy.

"Buying Russian fossil fuels is undoubtedly similar to the financial assistance of the Kremlin and facilitating its invasion. It is a practice that needs to be stopped immediately to ensure not only the future of Ukraine but also the energy security of Europe," said CREA analyst and co -author .

It is noted that for the 2024 calendar year the EU paid for the import of fossil fuels from the Russian Federation by 39% more than it allocated financial assistance to Ukraine (the figure of assistance does not include military and humanitarian contributions). IFW Kiel Economist Christoph Trebesh, who did not participate in the analysis, noted that on average, European allies spend less than 0. 1% of GDP a year to support Ukraine. "Many countries have been more generous in past conflicts.

Germany, for example, mobilized much more assistance to release Kuwait in 1990/91 than for Ukraine for a similar period of time," he said. In addition, according to the report, the Russian Federation has earned 242 billion euros for 2024 from world exports of fossil fuels.

Up to half of tax revenues to the budget of the Russian Federation is provided by the oil and gas sector, so the Russians try to bypass sanctions with the help of "shadow fleet" - old and unplanned tankers, explaining CREA researchers. According to them, the Kremlin's income from fossil fuels can be cut by 20% by means: EU Ambassadors, on February 19, agreed on new restrictions on the Russian Flee Fleet within the 16th round of sanctions.

The authors of the CREA report also urge to overlap the exports from the Russian Federation of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which increased after reducing transportation through pipelines. According to Rystad Energy gas analytics, Jana-Erik Fenrych, the use of LNG in the EU and the UK from 81. 3 million tons in 2019 after the full-scale war in 2022 jumped up to 119 million tons. "Last year, Russia took the place of the second exporter of LNG to Europe," the analyst said.