The European Union spends more money on Russian fossil fuels than for financial aid to Ukraine, according to a report released on the 3rd anniversary of the invasion.

Specifically, the EU bought Russian oil and gas value 21.9 billion. During the third year of the war, according to estimates by the Crea Research Center (CREA), despite efforts made to get rid of Epirus from its addiction to the fuel funded by Vladimir Putin’s war fund.

This amount is greater by the 18.7 billion euros EU provided by the EU in Ukraine as financial aid in 2024, according to the Kiel World Economy Institute (IFW Kiel).

Vaibhav Raghunandan, a Crea analyst and co-author of the report, said about the results of the study: ‘Market of Russian fossil fuels is, clearly, as if You send financial help to the Kremlin and to allows the invasion of. It is a practice that must stop immediately to ensure not only the future of Ukraine, but also Europe’s energy security. “

The researchers collected commercial data to assess the value of Russian fuels sold worldwide during the third year of the invasion. They provided for data for February 2025, which is not yet available, based on January imports.

In the year 2024, the EU spent 39% more on imports of Russian fossil fuels than it provided for Ukraine. It is noted that the amount of assistance does not include military or humanitarian contributions.

Christoph Trebesch, an economist at IFW Kiel, said there is an impressive gap Between the amount of help that donors have mobilized for Ukraine compared to previous wars, with European donors to spent on average less from 0.1% of GDP per year.

As he commented: “Many countries were more generous in previous conflicts. OR Germanyfor example, mobilized much more help, faster for the Kuwait’s release in 1990/91 than for Ukraine in a comparable period. “

The report also found that Russia won EUR 242 billion from global fuel exports During the third year of its invasion of Ukraine, while revenue from the start of the war are now “approaching the trillion number” as the country adapts to sanctions.

According to the Guardian, Russia is drawing up to half of its tax revenue from the oil and gas sector and has tried to bypass sanctions by transporting fuel with a “shadow fleet” of old and uninsured tanks.

These ships are responsible for carrying about 1/3 of its revenue from exports of fuel mineralsaccording to Crea.

On Wednesday, EU ambassadors agreed to new measures to target Russia’s shadow fleet in the 16th round of sanctions from the start of the war. Crea researchers estimated that Russian revenue from fossil fuels could be reduced by 20% by boosting existing sanctions and filling in gaps.

Measures include closing a ‘refinement window’ through which the Europe can buy argon which has been processed in another country and the restriction of gas flows through the Turkstream pipeline.

The report also requests the Falling liquefied natural gas (LNG). Europe has reduced imports of Russian gas through pipelines from the start of the war in Ukraine, but has satisfied part of its “hunger” for energy through LNG, which supplies, including Russia.

Jan-Eric Fähnrich, Rystad Energy’s natural gas analyst, said the role of LNG in the EU and United Kingdom It has increased dramatically since the start of the war, launching from the pre -war high of 81.3 million tonnes in 2019 to 119 million tonnes in 2022. “This percentage is very high: Russia took 2nd place in the exporter of liquefied natural gas to Europe.”he commented.