EU Gas Imports from Russia Surpass US

For the first time since the onset of the Ukraine war, the European Union has imported more natural gas from Russia than from the United States in the second quarter of 2024, with figures showing 12.8 billion cubic meters from Russia compared to 12.2 billion from the US. This shift is attributed to reduced LNG imports from America due to full gas storage levels and low summer demand in the EU. While Norway continues to be the largest supplier, the resurgence of Russian gas imports is causing political concern among EU leaders, with calls for a ban on Russian gas gaining traction. Critics argue that importing Russian gas undermines efforts to support Ukraine and bolsters the Russian war economy. Despite the EU's plans to phase out Russian hydrocarbons, the trend of increasing imports from Russia highlights the complexities of energy dependency in Europe. The situation raises ethical questions about Europe's energy choices while simultaneously providing military and financial support to Ukraine.