EU's Russian LNG Imports Surge Despite Sanctions Due to Contract Loophole

Despite European Union sanctions intended to curtail Russian energy imports, the bloc continues to rely heavily on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). New data reveals that in the first five months of this year, EU ports received 114 tankers of Russian LNG, while only four were destined for China. This trend underscores a significant loophole in the EU's sanctions regime.

Analysis from market research firm Kpler, commissioned by the environmental organization Urgewald, shows a stark increase in LNG imports from Russia's Yamal facility. From January to May, these imports rose by 17.9% compared to the previous year. In May alone, 23 out of 25 LNG shipments from Yamal arrived in EU ports, representing 92% of the facility's total exports for that month and a substantial increase from May 2025.

This continued flow of Russian LNG to Europe, despite sanctions, is financing Russia's war in Ukraine. Urgewald estimates that Moscow earns approximately 29 million euros daily from these sales to Europe. Key European ports receiving and redirecting this gas include Dunkirk and Montoir in France, Zeebrugge in Belgium, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Bilbao and Mugardos in Spain.

The issue stems from a gap in the EU's sanctions. While a ban on short-term contracts for Russian LNG took effect in April 2026, it permits contracts concluded between June 2025 and March 2026 to remain valid. This allows European nations to import as much LNG as possible under these existing agreements. Sebastian Rötters of Urgewald views the European Commission's proposed ban on selling LNG tankers to Russia as a positive step, calling it a move that "hits one of Russia's Achilles' heels," but stresses the critical need for "flawless enforcement."