6 hours ago
Last Updated:March 04, 2025, 07:53 IST
The European nations pledged strong support for Kyiv over the weekend after the widely publicised Oval Office shouting match between Zelenskyy and Trump last Friday.
US President Donald Trump (AP)
US President Donald Trump called out the European leaders for spending more on Russian oil and gas than to defend Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
The European nations pledged strong support for Kyiv over the weekend after the widely publicised Oval Office shouting match between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump last Friday.
Despite their social media posts and lofty rhetoric, Trump suggested that the leaders’ actions have been ineffective and insincere.
“Europe has spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine —BY FAR!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s statement came as European nations expressed strong support for Zelenskyy following his fallout with the US over the minerals deal, which he hoped would lead to peace with Russia.
Setting the example, the UK signed an agreement with Ukraine for a £2.26 billion loan handout, which will be paid back using the extraordinary profits generated on sanctioned Russian sovereign assets held in the EU.
EU Spent More On Russian Oil: Report
A recent study by the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed that European Union countries spent approximately €21.9 billion ($23 billion) on Russian fossil fuels last year.
This represents only a 1% decrease from the previous year and is slightly higher than the €18.7 billion ($19.6 billion) Europe provided in aid to Ukraine in 2024, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Russia’s total revenue from petroleum and other fossil fuels reached €242 billion ($253.8 billion) last year, and around €847 billion ($888.5 billion) since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
For setting up the context, Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at around $2.2 trillion last year, according to the Monetary Fund, based on Kremlin data.
The largest buyers of Russian fossil fuels were China ($81.8 billion), India ($51.5 billion), and Turkey ($35.6 billion), the latter of which is a NATO member but has faced difficulties in its EU accession efforts.
The CREA study also highlighted that India’s imports of Russian fossil fuels increased by 8%, while Turkey’s purchases grew by 6% last year compared to 2023.
Location :United States of America (USA)
First Published:March 04, 2025, 07:41 IST
News world ‘Spent More On Russian Oil Than Aid To Ukraine’: Trump Calls Out European Leaders In Another Blowup
