Europe imports record quantities of Russian gas before the embargo is imposed on Moscow
European Union data showed that the countries of the Union imported record quantities of Russian liquefied gas during the first half of this year, before the entry into force of a ban on Russian supplies that will come into effect next year.
The European Union had banned, as of last April, the import of Russian liquefied natural gas under short-term contracts, but imports under long-term contracts will continue until January 1, 2027.
European Union countries imported 136 shipments containing 9.97 million tons of liquefied natural gas from the facility "Yamal" Russian during the period from January to June 2026, an increase of 16% compared to the same period last year, according to company data. "Kepler" Specialized in commodity information.
This data shows the extent of Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, even at a time when the European Union supports Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The value of the European Union’s purchases of liquefied natural gas amounted to "Yamal" Between January and June it amounted to 5.96 billion euros (6.82 billion $). France, Belgium and Spain were the three largest delivery destinations.
According to European Union For cooperation between energy regulators, European Union imports of Russian gas via pipelines rose by 7% year-on-year during the period from January to May 2026, while imports of Russian liquefied natural gas rose by 11%.
The reasons for this increase include companies accelerating deliveries before the EU ban, and the EU ban on Russian LNG transhipments in 2025, which means larger quantities will remain in Europe instead. From shipping it to other countries.
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