In February, France was the EU’s largest importer of Russian fossil fuels, with total imports reaching €399 million, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Some of the Russian LNG arriving at France’s Dunkerque terminal was later delivered to Germany.
Hungary ranked second, purchasing €307 million worth of Russian fossil fuels, including €191 million in crude oil and €117 million in pipeline gas.
Belgium was the third-largest importer, exclusively buying €266 million worth of Russian LNG. While domestic gas consumption in Belgium fell by 11% month-over-month, gas exports to other EU Member States surged by 60%, suggesting that a portion of the Russian LNG may have been reexported.
Slovakia was the EU’s fourth-largest buyer, importing €253 million in Russian fossil fuels. Seventy percent of these imports were Russian crude oil delivered via pipeline (€175 million), which was refined and reexported to Czechia. Slovakia’s exemption from the EU’s ban on exporting oil products made from Russian crude—originally set to expire in December 2024—has been extended until June 2025.
Czechia rounded out the top five, importing €132 million worth of Russian crude oil.
Overall, the EU was the fourth-largest global buyer of Russian fossil fuels in February, accounting for 14% (€1.7 billion) of total purchases by the top five importers (China, India, Turkey, the EU, and Brazil). Nearly half of these imports (€861 million) were Russian LNG.
Urgent Action Needed: More Can & Must Be Done to Cut Russia’s War Financing
Stronger measures are essential to curb Russia’s fossil fuel revenues:
- Lower the oil price cap
- Strengthen sanctions monitoring & enforcement
- Ban Russian LNG & pipeline fuels