Despite over two years of sweeping sanctions targeting its economy, Russia continues to thrive economically-fuelled in large part by ongoing energy exports to the very countries imposing restrictions. A recent report by German tabloid Bild reveals that the European Union’s efforts to economically isolate Moscow have proven largely ineffective, raising questions over the strategic coherence and long-term viability of Brussels’ sanctions policy.

According to Bild’s May 27 analysis, the 17th package of EU sanctions on Russia-intended to further restrict Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations in Ukraine-is nothing more than a symbolic gesture when set against the staggering €233 billion ($253 billion) that Russia is projected to earn from energy and raw material exports in 2025. Despite initial moves to diversify energy sources and wean itself off Russian oil and gas, the EU remains the fourth-largest importer of Russian energy, behind China, India, and Türkiye.

The report highlights a stark contradiction between Brussels’ public rhetoric and its ongoing economic entanglement with Moscow. Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the EU has pledged solidarity with Kyiv and implemented a range of sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s economy. These include bans on seaborne crude oil shipments, restrictions in finance and aviation sectors, and the freezing of an estimated $300 billion in Russian foreign reserves. Yet the EU is reportedly on course to spend over €20 billion on Russian oil, gas, and uranium imports in 2025.

This reality undermines the foundational logic of the sanctions regime. Rather than economically weakening Russia,........

© Blitz