Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told a television audience on Monday that Russia has sold more than $320.7 billion of hydrocarbons to EU member states since 2022, despite ongoing sanctions. The figure includes oil, gas and liquefied natural gas delivered directly to European markets.
In the first nine months of 2026 alone, European buyers purchased $21.3 billion of Russian fuels, according to Novak. This reflects a sustained demand that has persisted even as the EU tightened its embargoes on Russian energy.
The Kremlin says it continues to supply hydrocarbons in areas granted exemptions, citing LNG shipments to France and pipeline deliveries to landlocked Slovakia and Hungary. These arrangements allow certain EU members to sidestep full sanctions by routing oil through approved channels.
Meanwhile, the United States has reached a deal that permits it to import Russian diesel, a move that has drawn criticism from Brussels. Trump retorted on Truth Social, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent condemned European reliance on Russian energy as hypocritical.
Novak added that Russian oil exports could return to pre‑war volumes by year‑end, suggesting a strategic pivot to maintain revenue streams. The statement comes as the EU continues to monitor compliance and consider further restrictions.