Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the European Union (EU) saw an 18 percent increase in imports of Russian gas in 2024, complicating its goal to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027.

Currently, the EU is prohibited from investing in new LNG projects in Russia, and EU ports are not allowed to be used for shipping Russian LNG to third countries.

Energy analyst Yiannis Bassias warned that Europe is expected to import even more Russian gas in 2025 due to limited U.S. gas supplies.

This rise in imports, which includes both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), has been primarily driven by Italy, the Czech Republic, and France.

Isaac Levi from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air urged the EU to implement legally binding measures to establish a clear timeline for ending Russian gas imports, citing risks of price volatility.

The report highlights the need for EU member states to avoid long-term supply contracts that could undermine decarbonization efforts and to utilize existing infrastructure more efficiently.

Ukraine has intensified drone strikes targeting Russian gas export revenues, aiming to disrupt both gas infrastructure and oil terminals.

The International Energy Agency noted a decoupling of energy-related carbon emissions from economic growth, indicating a potential shift in Europe's energy dynamics.

Pawel Czyzak from Ember criticized the EU for continuing to import Russian gas amidst the war, arguing that member states are squandering resources on expensive LNG instead of investing in renewable energy.

While the EU has made efforts to reduce imports of Russian oil, with official imports dropping by 90 percent by the end of 2023, illicit imports have complicated the situation.

Despite a peak of 179 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian gas imports in 2019, imports fell to just 31 bcm in 2024, with projections suggesting a further drop to 16-18 bcm in 2025.

The report indicates that while EU gas demand remained flat, the increase in Russian gas imports highlights a lack of a legally binding framework to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.