A new report reveals that, despite constant anti-Russia and pro-Ukraine rhetoric, the nations of the European Union (EU) collectively spent more money on Russian oil and gas in 2024 than they did on military aid to Ukraine.
As reported by Fox News, the data was revealed in a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CRECA). The center determined that in the third year of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the EU spent approximately $23 billion on Russian fossil fuels; by comparison, they spent only about $19.6 billion on military and financial aid to Ukraine.
Russia’s energy dominance also went beyond the continent of Europe. In 2024, China purchased at least $82 billion worth of Russian energy, while India spent $51 billion and Turkey spent $36 billion. All together, Russia made $254 billion on energy exports. In addition to direct sales to Western nations, Russia also profits from selling oil to third parties which then sell the Russian oil to Western states.
Overall, Russia’s oil exports have decreased by just 8% since the start of the war in 2022, despite overwhelming condemnation and sanctions from most Western nations. Since the war began in February of 2022, Russia has made nearly $1 trillion in oil exports alone.
One major reason for Russian exports remaining strong is that, even after numerous sanctions, the average price of Russian oil is still cheaper than other sources such as the Middle East.
Another reason why Europe has remained dependent on Russian energy is the anti-energy policies of the previous Biden Administration. After the start of the war, many European countries prepared to abandon Russian energy in favor of American exports. However, Biden’s White House soon banned liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in the name of combatting so-called “global warming,” thus forcing Europe back to the Russian energy market. President Donald Trump rescinded the LNG export bans with an executive order on his first day back in office.
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