EU Imports from Russia Outpace Ukraine Aid, Swedish Foreign Minister Claims

European Union imports from Russia have exceeded the total aid provided to Ukraine since the beginning of Moscow’s full-scale invasion, according to Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. Her claims, which went viral last Thursday, have sparked debate about Europe’s financial relationship with both countries during the ongoing conflict.

“European countries and Europe have supported Ukraine with €187 billion,” Stenergard told reporters in Brussels. “During the same period, we have imported Russian oil and gas to an amount of €201 billion. And if you add the other imports, then the total is €311 billion.” This, she concluded, represents “negative support to Ukraine of €124 billion.”

Analysis of publicly available data confirms Stenergard’s calculations are broadly accurate, though the exact figures depend on how “aid” is defined and which data sources are used.

Despite the EU’s sanctions targeting Russian energy products, European imports from Russia remain substantial even though they have plunged by approximately 89% since the start of the invasion, according to Eurostat data. The independent Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reports that EU member states have purchased more than €216 billion in Russian fossil fuels—including oil, refined products, pipeline gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG)—since February 2022.

October 2025 marked a milestone as Russia’s monthly fossil fuel export revenues fell to their lowest point since the invasion began. Nevertheless, the EU remains the largest buyer of Russian LNG, with Hungary, Slovakia, France, Belgium, and Romania collectively paying €938 million for Russian fossil fuels in October 2025 alone.

The European Council recently reported that Russian gas still accounts for approximately 13% of EU imports in 2025—down from 18% the previous year but still significant. Natural gas remains unsanctioned, with the EU setting a 2027 deadline for all member states to phase out remaining purchases. Hungary has notably challenged this timeline, seeking exemptions from the proposed arrangements.

“Imports that remain outside of the sanctions framework—LNG, TurkStream pipeline gas, and crude via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia—have persisted or even increased, allowing significant Russian revenue streams to continue,” explained Issac Levi, energy analysis team lead at CREA.

When factoring in non-energy imports like fertilizer, nickel, iron, and steel, Eurostat data analyzed by Reuters in August shows that the EU has imported €297 billion from Russia since February 2022.

Regarding aid to Ukraine, the European Commission reports that the EU and its member states have provided more than €187 billion in support since February 2022, with highly concessional loans representing approximately 35% of that total. Using this definition, Stenergard’s assessment that Europe has imported more from Russia than it has spent on aid to Ukraine is accurate.

The Kiel Institute, which tracks allocated support to Ukraine, provides a slightly different perspective. According to their research, EU institutions and member states have allocated €150 billion to Ukraine since the invasion began. When including non-EU European countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and the UK, the total allocated aid reaches €177 billion.

These figures represent what governments have agreed to provide, not necessarily what has been fully disbursed. The Kiel Institute’s data includes bilateral financial, military, and humanitarian support compiled from government budget documents, official announcements, and other public sources.

When considering future commitments not yet allocated, the EU and its member states have pledged a total of €214 billion, while geographic Europe as a whole has committed €273 billion. This narrows—but does not necessarily close—the gap between Russian imports and Ukraine aid.

The Kiel Institute’s numbers also exclude costs for hosting Ukrainian refugees. In a hypothetical upper-bound estimate, Europe may have spent up to €160 billion on refugee support since 2022, though the actual figure is likely lower.

Looking ahead, military aid for Ukraine has declined significantly since summer, with allocations from European countries falling by 57% compared to the first half of the year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently urged EU countries to reach an agreement by December to cover Ukraine’s military and financial needs for the next two years, estimated at €135.7 billion.

As Europe continues to balance its energy security concerns with support for Ukraine, the financial relationship with both countries remains a complex and evolving challenge for EU policymakers.