Foreign Trade
EU Russian Arctic LNG Imports Hit $4.4bn Record Despite Sanctions Measures
European Union imports of Russian Arctic liquefied natural gas from the Yamal LNG project reached a record high in the first four months of 2026, with 6.69 million metric tonnes imported—up 17.2% from the same period a year earlier. EU countries paid approximately 3.88 billion euros ($4.4 billion) for the fuel, according to analysis by environmental group Urgewald. The figures underscore the limited effectiveness of EU sanctions measures, including a ban on short-term Russian LNG contracts that took effect on April 25, 2026.