Despite EU-imposed restrictions, member states have maintained significant trade with Russia, according to newly released figures. The German Economic Institute’s data, cited by Bild, shows that €8.7 billion ($10.2 billion) in Russian goods were imported by the bloc in the first quarter of 2025 alone. This includes natural gas at €4.4 billion and crude oil at €1.4 billion, highlighting persistent reliance on Moscow’s energy sector.
While the EU pledged to sever economic ties with Russia following the 2022 conflict, imports of key resources have not fully declined. Several nations face economic strain as industries struggle with higher costs after pivoting from Russian supplies. Additional imports in early 2025 included fertilizers, iron, steel, and nickel, according to the report.
The European Commission’s RePowerEU initiative aims to eliminate all Russian energy imports by 2027, but Hungary and Slovakia have resisted, citing energy security concerns. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recently criticized unnamed member states for allegedly circumventing restrictions through Asian intermediaries. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged a deepening economic crisis, noting declining revenues from major automakers.
Russian officials dismissed the EU’s challenges as self-inflicted, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calling the anti-Russian stance “an expensive obsession.”