**Europe and India Continue to Import Billions from Russia Amid Ongoing War in Ukraine**
It’s been three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the United States and European Union are still importing billions of euros’ worth of Russian energy and commodities. This includes liquefied natural gas, enriched uranium, oil, nickel, fertilizers, iron, and steel.
**EU Trade with Russia Contracts, But Not Entirely**
While trade between the EU and Russia has drastically contracted due to sanctions and import restrictions on some products, it’s not a complete halt. In fact, imports of goods from Russia in the first quarter of 2025 totaled 8.74 billion euros, down from 30.58 billion euros four years earlier. The EU continues to purchase oil, nickel, natural gas, fertilizer, iron, and steel from Russia.
Oil imports, for example, fell to 1.48 billion euros in the first quarter of 2025 from 14.06 billion euros four years ago. However, the EU still relies on Russia for a significant portion of its natural gas, with Russia’s share plummeting to 17% in the first quarter of 2025 from 48% in 2021.
**India’s Imports from Russia Surge**
In contrast, India’s imports from Moscow have surged over the last four years. In 2024, India imported $65.7 billion worth of goods from Russia, a significant increase from the $8.25 billion it imported in 2021. Crude oil has been the biggest driver of this growth, jumping to $52.2 billion in 2024 from $2.31 billion in 2021.
**US Imports from Russia Fall**
In the United States, imports from Russia have fallen significantly since January 2022, with total imports totaling $24.51 billion. Fertilizers remain a key import, with the US importing around $1.27 billion of Russian fertilizers last year, up slightly from $1.14 billion in 2021.
**Commentary and Analysis**
The ongoing trade relationships between Europe, India, and Russia raise questions about the effectiveness of sanctions and import restrictions on Russia. While these measures have certainly had an impact, it’s clear that many countries still rely heavily on Russian energy and commodities.
India’s surge in imports from Russia is particularly noteworthy, with crude oil being the main driver of this growth. This has led to renewed threats from U.S. President Donald Trump over India’s purchases of Russian crude oil.
In the United States, the decline in imports from Russia reflects a broader shift away from Russian energy and commodities. However, it’s clear that the US still maintains significant trade ties with Russia, particularly in the areas of fertilizers and nuclear materials.
As the world continues to navigate the complex and often contentious landscape of international trade, these relationships will undoubtedly remain a focus of attention.
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