Europe maintains high Russian gas imports despite sanctions

Despite ongoing sanctions, European nations continue to import significant quantities of Russian natural gas. In July, joint European purchases of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose to 526 million euros, an 8% increase compared to July of the previous year. Europe remains the primary buyer of Russian LNG, accounting for 49% of total exports, while China holds 23% of the market.

Specific countries such as Belgium, France, and Spain have shown increased demand. For instance, the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium received 37 LNG cargoes from Siberia in the first half of 2026, a 12% increase year-over-year. This trend highlights a persistent energy dependency despite EU plans to implement a total ban on Russian LNG by January 2027.

Concerns are mounting regarding energy security as gas storage levels remain low across the continent. Current levels sit at 58% overall, with Germany at 48% and Belgium at 40%. Additionally, recent sanctions negotiations included an exception for Greece, allowing it to transport Russian LNG to third countries under certain conditions, which critics argue weakens the collective pressure on Moscow.