Lead

The European Union's imports of Russian gas dropped by half in the first two months of 2026, with new Eurostat data and TASS calculations showing total purchases of €1.7 billion in January–February. That marks a two-fold decline from the same period in 2025, as reported by Russia's state-run news agency TASS.

According to TASS calculations based on Eurostat data, the EU purchased Russian pipeline gas worth €693 million and liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth €1 billion during the two-month period. In February alone, EU countries paid €454 million for Russian LNG, with France (€253 million), Spain (€91 million), and the Netherlands (€82 million) as the main importers. Belgium reduced its LNG purchases from Russia to the lowest level since August 2024 at €28 million. Pipeline gas imports in February totaled €299 million.

Coverage Comparison

The reporting on this development comes exclusively from TASS, which provided two separate articles on April 17. The first focused on the overall reduction in EU gas purchases, highlighting the €1.7 billion total and the halving compared to the prior year. The second article placed the data in the broader context of the LNG market, reporting that Russia ranked second in LNG supply value to the EU in February, with a 14% share, behind the United States, which supplied 54.5% of the EU's LNG at a value of €1.8 billion.

Notably, the two articles offer complementary but distinct angles. The first emphasizes the decline in EU-Russian gas trade, while the second underscores that Russia remains a significant supplier despite the drop. No other outlets were available for comparison in this analysis.

The projected figures and the regulatory timeline described are attributed to Eurostat data and TASS's own calculations. The information about the EU's ban on Russian gas imports—approved by the EU Council on January 26 and entering into force on February 2, 2026—is stated as fact by TASS, citing EU policy decisions.

Key Claims

  • EU total gas purchases from Russia halved: TASS reports that EU purchases of Russian pipeline gas and LNG combined fell to €1.7 billion in January–February 2026, half the amount in the same period in 2025.
  • LNG and pipeline gas breakdown: The EU spent €1 billion on Russian LNG and €693 million on pipeline gas in the two-month period, per TASS calculations based on Eurostat data.
  • February LNG importers: France, Spain, and the Netherlands were the leading buyers of Russian LNG in February, with Belgium reducing purchases to a near-record low.
  • Russia's LNG market position: Russia held a 14% share of EU LNG supply value in February, ranking second behind the US at 54.5%, according to TASS.
  • Year-on-year LNG volume increase: TASS reported earlier that Russian LNG supplies to the EU grew by 11% in January–February 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, approaching 4.5 billion cubic meters.
  • EU ban timeline: The EU Council approved a ban on Russian LNG imports effective January 1, 2027, and on pipeline gas from September 30, 2027. Short-term LNG contracts face restrictions from April 25, 2026, and short-term pipeline contracts must be completed by June 17, 2026.

Perspectives

Russian Official Perspective

TASS, as Russia's state news agency, frames the data without explicit commentary but highlights that Russia remains a major LNG supplier to Europe despite the EU's planned embargo. The inclusion of the 11% year-on-year volume growth in LNG supplies suggests that, while the value has dropped, physical volumes have not collapsed, and Russia retains a foothold in the European market.

EU Energy Transition Perspective

The EU's phased ban on Russian gas imports—covering LNG from January 2027 and pipeline gas from September 2027—indicates a deliberate strategy to wean the bloc off Russian energy. The halving of purchases could be seen as evidence of this policy's early impact, though the continued imports, particularly LNG, underscore the complexity of the transition.

Market Dynamics Perspective

The data reveals a shift in the EU's LNG supplier mix: the US now dominates with a 54.5% share, while Russia's share, though second, is significantly smaller. This suggests that EU buyers are actively diversifying their energy sources, a trend that aligns with geopolitical efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy.