In the first quarter of 2025, the EU approached last year's level of gas imports from Russia

In the first quarter of 2025, the European Union (EU) imported 16% of the total volume of liquefied natural gas (LNG) consumed from Russia, which is approaching the corresponding ratio of fuel purchases for the whole of 2024. This was stated on April 15 by the representative of the European Commission (EC) Anna-Kaisa Itkonen at a press conference in Brussels.

"This year, LNG imports from Russia account for 16%. Last year, 20 billion cubic meters were imported, which was 20%," Itkonen said, her speech was broadcast on the website of the EC audiovisual service.

She clarified that the European Union still intends to completely abandon Russian energy resources.

According to the EC representative, the upcoming EU energy strategy plan will be presented next week, and it should include the refusal to import Russian liquefied natural gas.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the EU is exploring legal options for terminating contracts for the supply of Russian gas without paying fines. It is specified that this issue is being considered as part of the roadmap for the block's abandonment of Russian fossil fuels by 2027.

Prior to that, on March 17, Igor Yushkov, an expert and lecturer at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, in an interview with Izvestia, predicted an increase in gas prices in Europe in the event of abandonment of Russian LNG. According to him, in order to replace Russian gas, Europe will have to reorient supplies from Qatar, which is currently sending its fuel to Asia.