In spite of sanctions, substantial volumes of Russian gas are still reaching Europe in the form of LNG, accounting in September for 21.2% of EU imports. Europe obtained 19% from the United States and 21.6% from Algeria. A report by TASS shows that EU countries paid €701.5 million for Russian LNG in September, up by 28% month-on-month and by 26% year-on-year. This is the highest amount since November 2023, when €719 million were spent on payment for supplies of Russian LNG. The main buyers were France (€366 million), Spain (€141.5 million) and the Netherlands (€93.6 million).
The EU also imported Russian pipeline gas worth €547.8 million in October, the highest level since June 2024. Among leading purchasers were Hungary (€231 million), Greece (€150 million) and Slovakia (€124 million). In January-October 2024, the European Union paid more than €6 billion for Russian pipeline gas and €5.7 billion for Russian LNG—all this despite the official Western narrative, that buying gas from Russia is financing Putin’s war chest.
