Multiple outlets report a dispute over how much the European Union has paid Russia for energy since March 2022. Euronews and other sources say EU-linked figures put spending on Russian fossil fuels at about €197 billion (around US$209 billion) from March 2022 onward.
Russia and at least some U.S. claims cite a much higher figure, with Russia saying Europe bought about $320.7 billion worth of its hydrocarbons since 2022. France 24 reports that the higher number is used amid broader tensions over energy sourcing and sanctions enforcement, including criticism of a U.S. deal to import Russian diesel and calls from some officials for the bloc to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Ukrainska Pravda adds context by referencing REPowerEU’s estimated savings of about €278 billion, portraying the gap between the reported EU spending and Russia’s larger claim. Overall, outlets agree the figures differ substantially, with EU data presented to counter what European officials describe as inflated assertions.
