NATO Members Quietly Increase Russian Energy Imports While U.S. Criticizes India for Buying Russian Oil

While the United States continues to criticize India for purchasing crude oil from Russia, several NATO member states have quietly increased their own imports of Russian energy, according to a recent Reuters report. Despite Western sanctions and strong political statements against Moscow, data reveals that European countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, and Hungary have significantly raised their intake of Russian energy supplies.

The figures highlight a clear trend of continued dependency on Russian energy within Europe. France’s imports of Russian energy have reportedly risen by 40%, while the Netherlands has recorded a 72% increase. Belgium saw a smaller rise of around 3%, but others showed far sharper growth: Croatia by 55%, Romania by 57%, and Portugal by an unexpected 167%. Hungary, which has maintained a more open energy relationship with Moscow, also recorded an 11% increase.

At the EU level, overall dependence on Russian energy has been significantly reduced since 2022, with around 90% less reliance compared to pre-invasion levels. Nonetheless, in the first eight months of 2025, the EU still imported €11.4 billion worth of Russian energy, showing that complete energy independence from Russia remains a challenge.

Much of this trade happens through indirect channels — refined petroleum products or shipments via intermediaries — which technically avoid direct violations of European Union sanctions. For example, Russian crude is often refined in third countries such as Turkey or India and then re-exported to European markets. This process allows European nations to access Russian-origin fuels while maintaining a formal stance of sanction compliance.

Meanwhile, India has faced repeated criticism from U.S. and European officials for increasing its purchases of discounted Russian crude since 2022. Indian officials have consistently argued that their country’s energy imports are guided by national interest and economic necessity, emphasizing that Western countries themselves continue to engage with Russian energy in various forms.

Energy experts point out that Europe’s dependence on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) remains particularly strong. Despite attempts to diversify, Russia remains among the top LNG suppliers to several European states. This highlights the ongoing challenge of replacing Russian energy supplies without severely affecting domestic energy prices and industrial stability.

The data underscores a complex reality: while Western governments push for sanctions and call for global restraint in buying Russian energy, several NATO members continue to rely heavily on it for their national energy security. The situation has prompted questions about double standards in how global partners — particularly India — are treated when navigating their own energy requirements in a volatile global market.