French Imports Of Russian LNG Surge, Worrying Ukraine Allies

Shipments of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) to France more than doubled in the first half of this year, according to new analyses of trade data, at a time when Europe is attempting to reduce energy purchases that help finance the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, Ed Davey reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Companies in France are currently the largest importers of Russian LNG. I Photo: ПАО «НК «Роснефть» 

While Europe has restricted oil imports from Russia, natural gas is still allowed.

Companies in France are currently the largest importers, and one analysis found that EU countries overall imported 7% more Russian LNG—natural gas that has been chilled and liquefied for easier ocean transport—in the first half of this year compared to the same period a year ago.

Oleh Savytskyi, a founder of the nonprofit Razom We Stand, which campaigns for tougher sanctions on Russian fossil fuels, criticized the EU’s goal of phasing out all Russian fossil fuels by 2027 as being "appallingly off track."

He stated that countries buying Russian LNG are sabotaging the continent’s energy transition and contributing billions to Russia’s war effort.