After 2022, gas supplies through pipelines were interrupted mainly due to a dispute over the method of payment.
Although the European Union has significantly reduced its dependence on Russian energy after 2022, Russian gas imports have not stopped completely. They have changed form and are now mainly realized through liquefied natural gas (LNG) and long-term contracts, which are still in force.
According to data from the Crea research center in Helsinki, Russian gas exports reached about 1.3 billion euros in the last month, with about 1 billion euros going to European Union countries. This shows that, despite political tensions and partial sanctions, energy trade between Russia and Europe continues to a limited extent. After 2022, gas supplies through pipelines were interrupted mainly due to a dispute over the method of payment, as Russia demanded that payments be made in rubles through Gazprombank, a request that most European countries rejected. As a result, several traditional supply lines were interrupted or significantly reduced.
However, long-term “take-or-pay” contracts for LNG have continued to have legal effect, forcing some European countries to pay for certain quantities of gas even when they do not consume it in full. This has meant that imports have not stopped altogether, but have been shifted to seaborne tankers.
The countries most involved in these imports turn out to be Spain, France and Belgium. Spain has seen a significant increase in imports, becoming one of the main importers of Russian LNG gas in Europe, with shipments arriving at the country’s main energy terminals. France and Belgium also continue to receive significant quantities of gas, while several Central and Eastern European countries remain connected to supplies through Regional energy networks. Energy experts emphasize that the current situation is the result of a difficult transition: Europe has significantly reduced its dependence on Russia, but has not managed to completely eliminate it due to existing contracts and the structure of the global LNG market.
Despite political changes and sanctions, Russian gas continues to be present in the European market, showing that energy decoupling is a gradual and complex process.