They spend more on Russian gas than on aid to Ukraine

According to reports, together with France, Spain, and the Netherlands, Belgium accounts for 95 percent of the European Union’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported.

Together, these four countries paid €34.3 billion for Russian gas imports between 2022 and mid-2023.

As VRT notes, this can be compared to a total of €21.2 billion in bilateral aid to Ukraine.

Since the start of the war, France has spent €12.7 billion on Russian gas. Spain has spent €9.5 billion, while Belgium is the EU’s third-largest buyer, having spent €6.2 billion on Russian LNG since 2022.

Meanwhile, Belgium has spent €3.2 billion on aid to Ukraine since February 2022.

According to the report, the West Flemish port of Zeebrugge has become the largest single entry point for Russian LNG into the EU, accounting for a quarter of all Russian gas deliveries into the Union.