The European Union imported a record 9.89 million tons of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s flagship Yamal project in the first half of 2026 — an 18% increase year-on-year, according to the Financial Times via RT. The irony is hard to miss: Brussels has committed to banning Russian LNG imports under long-term contracts from January 1, 2027, yet in the months leading up to that deadline, it is absorbing nearly all of Yamal’s output.
The purchases currently represent about 14% of the bloc’s total LNG imports. Short-term contract purchases are already prohibited, but the loophole for existing long-term deals has allowed volumes to surge. Critics see it as Europe stockpiling before the door closes; supporters argue it’s pragmatic energy management. Either way, Russia’s Novatek is laughing all the way to the bank — at least for another six months.
