Even as NATO allies increase defense spending, arm Ukraine and impose sanctions aimed at weakening the Kremlin, European Union countries haven't yet been able to shake their dependence on Russian liquefied natural gas, providing Russia with a key source of revenue as it wages war in Ukraine.A new analysis of commercial shipping data shows European countries spent billions in the first half of 2026 on purchases of Arctic liquefied natural gas.Environmental watchdog Urgewald, using trade intelligence platform Kpler shipping data, found that 136 of the 140 cargoes exported from Russia's flagship Yamal liquefied natural gas project between January and June were delivered to European Union ports.
China, once viewed as a major market for the Arctic project, received just four cargoes over the same period.The group estimated those shipments were worth roughly €5.96 billion, or about $6.8 billion, based on benchmark European natural gas prices.DRONE OFFENSIVE HITS RUSSIAN OIL TANKERS AND REFINERIES AT 'INDUSTRIAL SCALE' AS MOSCOW BANS DIESEL EXPORTSThe figures expose one of the central contradictions confronting Europe four years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine: While European governments have pledged to end their dependence on Russian fossil fuels and cut off a key source of the Kremlin's revenue, significant payments for Russian liquefied natural gas continue flowing during the bloc's transition away from Russian energy.The analysis by environmental watchdog Urgewald, based on trade intelligence platform Kpler shipping data, found that 136 of the 140 cargoes exported from Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas project between January and June were delivered to European Union ports.China, once viewed as a major market for the Arctic project, received just four cargoes over the same period.The group estimated those shipments were worth roughly €5.96 billion, or about $6.8 billion, based on benchmark European natural gas prices.The figures expose one of the central con...