Reduction of payments for fossil fuel imports
The European Union has significantly reduced payments to Russia for fossil fuel imports, lowering them from 12 billion euros to 1.5 billion euros per month. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU's goal is to achieve zero payments for Russian fuel. She emphasized that many considered such a reduction impossible, but the numbers speak for themselves.
Decrease in imports from Russia
In particular, imports of Russian gas decreased from 45% to 13%, coal imports were reduced from 51% to zero, and crude oil imports shrank from 26% to 2%. Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that at the beginning of the full-scale war, the EU was paying Russia 12 billion euros per month for fossil fuels, and now this amount has decreased to 1.5 billion euros, which is still too large a figure.
The EU continues to work on reducing dependence on Russian energy resources, striving to completely stop financial payments for fuel from Russia.
The reduction of fossil fuel imports from Russia is an important step for the European Union in the context of reducing energy dependence on the aggressor country. This also indicates a change in the EU's energy policy, which is focused on renewable energy sources and diversification of supplies. Decreasing financial flows to Russia could have a significant impact on the country's economy, which, in turn, may affect its military capabilities amid the prolonged conflict situation in Ukraine.