In 2024, Russia received more financial support from Europe than Ukraine, with impressive figures to back it up.

According to a new report from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), in 2024, European Union countries spent €21.9 billion on the purchase of Russian oil and gas. Meanwhile, financial support for Ukraine from the EU amounted to €18.7 billion.

As writes The Guardian, despite numerous sanctions and declarations to abandon Russian energy sources, European nations increased their spending on Russian fuel by 39% in 2024 compared to the amount of aid provided to Ukraine. These calculations do not include military and humanitarian assistance.

Over the three years of the full-scale invasion, Russia earned €242 billion from global fossil fuel exports. Moscow is actively using a "shadow fleet" – old and uninsured tankers – to circumvent international sanctions. About one-third of all revenue from energy exports is generated through these vessels.

Recently, the European Union adopted its 16th sanctions package targeting Russia's "shadow fleet." According to Crea experts, tightening sanctions and addressing existing loopholes could reduce Russian revenues from energy sales by 20%.

A separate issue remains the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to Rystad Energy analyst Jan-Erik Fenrich, LNG imports to the EU and the UK increased from 81.3 million tons in 2019 to 119 million tons in 2022. Russia ranks second among LNG exporters to Europe.

Economist Christoph Trebesch from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy notes that European countries allocate less than 0.1% of their GDP annually in aid to Ukraine. In comparison, during the Gulf War of 1990-1991, Germany provided much greater assistance.

Additionally, earlier "Telegraph" reported that China sharply increased its purchase of Russian oil.