Russia Reports $320 Billion in Hydrocarbon Sales to EU Since 2022 Despite Sanctions

Moscow announced Monday that European nations have purchased more than $320 billion worth of Russian hydrocarbons since 2022, underscoring the continued energy trade despite extensive sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

“For the period from 2022 to today, this figure amounts to $320.7 billion. This is the volume of energy resource deliveries to European Union countries,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees the energy portfolio, stated in a televised interview.

Novak added that EU member states bought $21.3 billion worth of Russian hydrocarbons in the first nine months of 2026 alone. “In other words, despite sanctions-related restrictions, we continue to supply energy resources in certain areas for which exemptions have been granted,” he noted.

The deputy prime minister also projected that Russian oil exports could return to pre-war levels by year-end.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard highlighted the Russian figure upon arriving in Luxembourg for a meeting with EU counterparts. She contrasted the $320.7 billion in energy revenue with the €218.7 billion ($244 billion) in support the bloc has provided to Ukraine since the invasion began.

“We have imported a higher amount to the EU countries than we have given support to Ukraine,” Malmer Stenergard said. “If we would use the frozen assets, we would almost double the total support that we have given to Ukraine,” she added, referring to immobilized Russian sovereign funds. “That would be a game-changer, and a game-changer is exactly what Ukraine needs.”

The European Union has adopted multiple sanctions packages since 2022, yet several members — including France — continue to import hydrocarbons, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), from Russia. Landlocked nations such as Slovakia and Hungary also benefit from exemptions permitting pipeline oil purchases.

These totals exclude Russian crude that reaches Europe indirectly after being refined in third countries such as India, Turkey, and China, all of which have significantly increased purchases of Russian oil since 2022.

European capitals criticized a deal announced Friday allowing the United States to import Russian diesel. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social: “The European Union paid Russia 250 Billion Dollars for Energy, and the Fake News Media doesn’t want to get near that story. I made the right choice for the American People – ALWAYS, AMERICA FIRST!”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed the sentiment Sunday, citing the “hypocrisy” of Europeans who “continue to finance Vladimir Putin” while criticizing the U.S. agreement to purchase Russian diesel.

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