Day: September 30, 2025

Greenpeace Report Highlights Belgian and EU Spending on Russian LNG Over Ukraine Aid

Belgium, France, and Spain have spent more on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) than on aid to Ukraine since the war began, Greenpeace Belgium said in a report published on Tuesday, reports 24brussels.

Alongside the Netherlands, these four countries—which account for 95 percent of EU LNG imports—paid 34.3 billion euros for Russian LNG between 2022 and mid-2025. In contrast, bilateral support for Ukraine totaled 21.2 billion euros during the same period.

France emerged as the largest buyer of LNG, spending 12.75 billion euros, followed by Spain with 9.5 billion euros and Belgium contributing 6.21 billion euros. In terms of aid to Ukraine, Belgium provided 3.2 billion euros, Spain 1.47 billion euros, and France 7.56 billion euros. Notably, the Netherlands alone allocated more for Ukrainian aid (8.99 billion euros) than it spent on Russian LNG (5.84 billion euros).

Largest Entry Point for Russian LNG

According to the report, Zeebrugge has become the single largest entry point for Russian LNG in the EU, handling approximately a quarter of all volumes. In the first half of this year, imports through the terminal reached 3.3 billion cubic meters, suggesting it is on track to surpass previous records despite an EU ban on re-exports.

Greenpeace further warned that revenues from the Yamal LNG project have yielded nearly 9.5 billion euros in taxes for the Russian state from 2022 to 2024. The organization argues that this funding could be redirected towards financing military supplies, including attack drones, artillery shells, and tanks.

Increasing Dependence on US Gas

Simultaneously, the EU’s reliance on US gas has intensified. Europe’s urgency to replace Russian supplies has led to a surge in long-term contracts for US LNG. This shift, which began in 2022 as US exports to Europe increased, has seen European buyers signing multi-year agreements at an unprecedented pace.

Greenpeace cautioned that this trend risks replacing one dependency with another and advocated for a swift transition to renewable energy sources.

The European Commission has proposed ending Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027, with a new sanctions package planned to ban Russian imports as early as 2026.

^{A LNG gas transporting ship at the liquid gas terminal of Fluxys in Zeebrugge harbour © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}