Amounts to 44 billion euros the bill paid by the EU to Russia during these last two months of war for gas, oil and coal. A very high figure that has allowed Moscow to double revenues resulting from the sale of fossil fuels. But that's not all because, paradox within a paradox, while revenues swelled thanks to the soaring prices of raw materials the volume of exports decreased. Translated: Russia has exported less gas, oil and coal, but has earned more. A reality that the European Union is dealing with in view of new sanctions (which this time could also involve oil) expectations for the next week after the supply stop imposed by Moscow on Poland and Bulgaria.
Gas, oil, coal: a heavy bill for the EU
According to an analysis of maritime movements and charges by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) cited by the Guardian, over the past two months – which coincide with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the consequent sanctions imposed by the West – Russia has collected 62 billion euros from exports of fossil fuels, 44 of which from European Union countries.
For all of 2021, Moscow had received 140 billion euros, or about 12 billion euros a month. Calculator in hand, on a monthly basis the bill for the EU increased by 83,3% from 12 to 22 billion a month.
Liquid money, essential for Russia to stem the effect of the sanctions imposed by the West, but also for finance the cost of the war in Ukraine.
“The findings demonstrate how Russia has continued to take advantage of its grip on Europe's energy supply, even as governments have frantically tried to prevent Vladimir Putin from using oil and gas as an economic weapon,” comments the Guardian.
Crude shipments reduced by 30%
At this juncture, while the receipts have risen going to inflate the coffers of the Kremlin, oil shipments shipments from Russia to foreign ports decreased. According to CREA data, in the first three weeks of April the drop compared to the rates of January and February, before the invasion, was 30%.
Gas and oil: how much does Italy pay Russia?
For the past two months Germany was the largest importer of fossil fuels from Russia. Berlin has in fact paid a bill equal to 9 billion euros.
“Two months after Putin invaded Ukraine, Germany is still funding Russia's war chest for an amount of 4,5 billion euros per month. Berlin is the largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels,” Bernice Lee, director of research at the Chatham House think tank, told the British newspaper. “The world is looking to Germany to show strength and determination towards Russia, but instead they are funding the war and blocking a European embargo on Russian oil.”
But Germany is in good company. In the ranking of the countries that have imported the most from Russia. Right behind it is Italy which since the beginning of the war it has poured into Moscow's coffers 6,8 billion euros. A figure that adds up to the more than 3,5 billion euros which, according to Istat data, our country paid in the first two months of the year to buy gas, oil and coal. The National Institute of Statistics has calculated an increase in costs of 520% if we take the February figure alone (in 2021 they had been 339 million), and of 256% in the first two months. In numbers, since the beginning of the year Italy has written Russia a check for more than 10 billion euros.
