Full Breakdown
Dispute Over EU Payments for Russian Energy
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Conflicting Payment Figures
The European Commission reports that Russia supplied the EU with €197 billion (? $209 billion) in energy between March 2022 and July 2026, based on COMEXT data from Eurostat. By contrast, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak says the EU has bought €302 billion (? $320.7 billion) worth of Russian energy resources since 2022. Novak’s statement does not specify which commodities are included or the exact valuation method.
EU Data and REPowerEU Context
Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen emphasized that the EU’s REPowerEU plan has sharply reduced reliance on Russian fossil fuels, noting that only 6 % of the bloc’s total fossil-fuel spending went to Russia in 2023. She added that without REPowerEU, the EU would have spent an additional €278 billion on Russian fuels, underscoring the policy’s impact.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister’s Position
He highlighted ongoing deliveries, including $21.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026, and cited exemptions such as the Arctic LNG route, which generated €9.7 billion in that period.
U.S. Political Commentary
On October 12, former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the EU had paid Russia $250 billion (? €223 billion) for energy, using the figure to argue that Europe continues to fund Moscow despite U.S. security commitments. This claim differs from both the EU’s €197 billion figure and Novak’s €302 billion claim.
Planned Phase-out of Russian Gas and LNG
The Commission has scheduled a complete phase-out of Russian gas and LNG by January 1, 2027 under REPowerEU. As Itkonen explained, “For the time being, it is still allowed to import some energy from Russia, given that the last deadline for these imports will take place next year.”
Verbatim Quote
“For the time being, it is still allowed to import some energy from Russia, given that the last deadline for these imports will take place next year,” — Kaisa Itkonen, commission spokesperson