Despite strong public opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several NATO member countries within the European Union have continued buying Russian oil over the last three years. While EU imports of Russian gas have dropped from 45% at the start of the war to 13% today, oil purchases have not ceased entirely. These existing contracts, often signed years before the conflict, have allowed continued euro payments to Russia, indirectly supporting its war efforts.
European countries have spent approximately $182 billion on Russian oil and gas since 2022, even as the EU pledged to phase out Russian energy imports by 2028. Former US President Donald Trump called out this contradiction, stating on social media that sanctions on Russia would only be effective if NATO countries stopped buying Russian oil. The thin line between NATO and Russia risks further tension, especially as Russian drones recently entered Poland, a NATO member.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the urgency of ending all energy and business ties with Russia to halt its military aggression, urging the international community to sever such deals immediately. This ongoing dilemma highlights the complex geopolitics underlying energy dependencies amid the Ukraine conflict.
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