DISINFO: Europe’s unescapable dependence on Russia has it on the edge of the abyss
SUMMARY
Europe has an unescapable dependence on Russia. Europe may face difficulties in producing fertilisers due to the high cost of energy after the rejection of Russian LNG. The most serious problem Europe has is energy, such as hydrocarbons, which seriously curbs its independence, but it invests billions of euros in other things. Europe is at a crossroads, at the edge of the abyss.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about an imminent economic collapse. In this case, the ultimate goal is to push for the removal of sanctions imposed on Russia’s energy as a result of its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Allegations about Europe’s energy dependence on Russia are not backed by actual data. 42% percent of the energy the EU consumes is produced domestically.
The share of Russia’s pipeline gas in EU imports dropped from over 40% in 2021 to about 8% in 2023. For pipeline gas and LNG combined, Russia accounted for less than 15% of total EU gas imports. Norway, the US and North Africa have replaced Russia as gas suppliers for the EU.
Likewise, the EU's imports of Russian crude oil fell by 90% since the invasion. Russia accounted for less than 3% of the extra-EU petroleum oil import value in the first quarter of 2024. For the EU, a significant number of countries including the US, Norway, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan are now more important oil suppliers.
Overall, EU imports of Russian fossil fuels decreased from a high of $16 billion per month in early 2022 to around $1 billion per month by the end of 2023.
Catastrophic claims about the current economic situation of Europe have been previously debunked here.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the Western economy is a sinking Titanic, that the EU's economic collapse is approaching, that sanctions that were supposed to destroy Russia may disintegrate the EU, or that Russia’s economy is massively outperforming that of the collective West.