--- title: "EU disputes Russian energy spending claims" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/eu-disputes-russian-energy-spending-claims" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/eu-disputes-russian-energy-spending-claims" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/eu-disputes-russian-energy-spending-claims.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/eu-disputes-russian-energy-spending-claims" category: "Business & Economy" area: "European Union" published: "2026-10-13T15:25:13.919Z" source_reported: "2026-10-13T15:05:25.678Z" updated: "2026-10-13T19:30:46.535Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-13T19:07:28.785Z" --- # EU disputes Russian energy spending claims *European Commission says bloc spent $209bn on Russian energy, countering higher figures from Moscow and Donald Trump.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. EU Commission figures cited by multiple outlets, with a named spokesperson. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Reports clearly separate claims from counterclaims and attribute them to specific sources. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are factual and directly reflect the content of the reports. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The European Commission claims the EU spent €197 billion ($209 billion) on Russian energy between March 2022 and July 2026. - This figure contradicts claims by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who stated the EU spent €302 billion ($320.7 billion) on Russian energy since 2022. - Donald Trump claimed the EU paid Russia $250 billion for energy. - The Commission also stated that by 2023, only 6% of the EU's total fossil fuel spending was on Russian energy, with dependence falling from 42%-45% in 2022 to 12%. The European Commission has contested figures put forward by Russia and Donald Trump concerning the European Union's expenditure on Russian energy. A Commission spokesperson stated that from March 2022 to July 2026, the EU imported Russian energy valued at €197 billion ($209 billion). This contrasts with a statement by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who claimed the EU had purchased Russian energy resources worth €302 billion ($320.7 billion) since 2022. The Commission's figures also challenge a claim made by former US President Donald Trump, who stated the EU had paid Russia $250 billion for energy. The EU spokesperson noted that the bloc's efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy have yielded results. Data cited by the Commission indicated that by 2023, Russian energy accounted for only 6% of the EU's total fossil fuel expenditure. Furthermore, the Commission reported that the EU's dependence on Russian energy has decreased from 42%-45% in 2022 to 12% currently. ## Disputed figures Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the EU spent €302 billion ($320.7 billion) on Russian energy since 2022. The European Commission, however, claims the EU spent €197 billion ($209 billion) on Russian energy from March 2022 to July 2026. Donald Trump claimed the EU paid Russia $250 billion for energy. ## Omissions No right-rated outlet ran this story. The digests from iDNES.cz and glasistre.hr did not mention Donald Trump's claim of $250 billion in EU payments to Russia. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 29% (2) - Centre: 57% (4) - Right: 14% (1) 10 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-13T19:07:28.785Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-14T00:45:47.684Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports highlighted the European Commission's figures for EU spending on Russian energy, presenting them as a contradiction to claims made by Moscow and Donald Trump. HotNews.ro, in its full report, detailed the Commission's €197 billion ($209 billion) figure for the period of March 2022 to July 2026, directly contrasting it with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak's €302 billion ($320.7 billion) estimate. This report also noted that the Commission's figures challenged Donald Trump's claim of $250 billion. TVN24.pl's digest also focused on the new data contradicting Trump, stating the EU spent approximately €197 billion on Russian fossil fuels. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the European Commission's efforts to counter claims of significant EU dependence on Russian energy. Portfolio's digest mentioned that the EU's official statistical data was used to refute Donald Trump's assertion of $250 billion in payments for energy carriers. Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija and 15min.lt digests reported that Brussels rejected Moscow's claims of dependence on Russian energy, noting that Moscow had boasted about the volume of energy sales to the EU. Euronews' digest stated the EU paid $209 billion on Russian energy, contradicting Moscow's $320 billion claim and noting the Commission pushed back against inflated claims by Russia and the United States. ### Right No separate framing summary. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 5 - unknown: 10 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [e-global.pt](https://e-global.pt/noticias/mundo/europa/ue-ja-gastou-quase-200-mil-milhoes-de-euros-em-energia-russa-durante-a-guerra) — EU Has Spent Almost EUR 200 Billion on Russian Energy During the War - [Financial Intelligence](https://financialintelligence.ro/ue-a-platit-rusiei-aproape-200-de-miliarde-euro-pentru-energie-de-la-invazia-in-ucraina) — EU Paid Russia Nearly 200 Billion Euros for Energy From Invasion in Ukraine - [Business AM](https://businessam.be/eu-betwist-russische-en-amerikaanse-cijfers-over-europese-uitgaven-aan-russische-energie) — EU Disputes Russian and American Figures on European Spending on Russian Energy - [Világgazdaság](https://vg.hu/nemzetkozi-gazdasag/2026/10/brusszel-orosz-energiaellatas-kifizetes-fuggoseg-trump) — The Potty over Russian Gas Has Gone Crazy: It Was Revealed How Many Billions Brussels Paid to Putin, While Hungary Was Attacked for It - Even Donald Trump Has Joined the Numbers War - [Hospodárske Noviny](https://hnonline.sk/finweb/zahranicna-ekonomika/96307697-eu-zaplatila-rusku-od-zaciatku-invazie-za-energie-okolo-200-miliard-eur-moskva-vsak-pocita-vacsie-straty) — The EU Has Paid Russia Around €200 Billion for Energy Since the Invasion Began. But Moscow Is Counting on Greater Losses. - [echo24.cz](https://echo24.cz/a/HHuRE/zpravy-ekonomika-evropska-unie-zaplatila-od-zacatku-invaze-na-ukrajinu-za-fosilni-paliva-209-miliard-dolaru) — EU Has Paid Russia $209 Billion for Fossil Fuels Since the Invasion of Ukraine - [iDNES.cz](https://idnes.cz/ekonomika/zahranicni/eu-zaplatila-valka-na-ukrajine-ruske-uhlovodiky-209-miliard.A261013_164003_eko-zahranicni_sahu) — The EU Has Paid Trillions of Crowns for Russian Hydrocarbons Since the Start of the War in Ukraine - [TVN24.pl](https://tvn24.pl/biznes/ze-swiata/ile-unia-zaplacila-rosji-nowe-dane-przecza-trumpowi-st9284734) — How Much Did the EU Pay Russia? New Data Contradicts Trump - [vietnamplus.vn](https://vietnamplus.vn/chau-au-da-chi-209-ty-usd-mua-nang-luong-cua-nga-ke-tu-nam-2022-post1141820.vnp) — Europe Has Spent $209 Billion Buying Energy From Russia Since 2022. - [Hot News](https://hotnews.ro/ue-afirma-ca-n-a-importat-atat-de-multa-energie-din-rusia-pe-cat-pretind-moscova-si-washingtonul-2374870) — The EU Claims that It Did Not Import as Much Energy From Russia as Moscow and Washington Claim - HotNews.ro - [glasistre.hr](https://glasistre.hr/gospodarstvo/2026/10/13/rusija-tvrdi-da-je-eu-od-pocetka-rata-kupila-njezine-energente-za-320-milijardi-dolara-bruxelles-os-1087644) — Russia Claims that the EU Has Purchased Its Energy Products Worth $320 Billion Since the Start of the War, Brussels Disputes the Figure - [rmf24.pl](https://rmf24.pl/fakty/swiat/news-ile-ue-wydala-w-trakcie-wojny-na-energie-z-rosji-mniej-niz-m,nIdn,1021690) — How Much Did the EU Spend on Energy From Russia During the War? Less than Trump Says, but Still a Lot. - [Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija](https://lrt.lt/naujienos/pasaulyje/6/3081319/briuselis-atmeta-maskvos-teiginius-apie-priklausomybe-nuo-rusiskos-energijos) — Brussels Rejects Moscow's Claims of Dependence on Russian Energy - [15min.lt](https://15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/briuselis-atmeta-maskvos-teiginius-apie-priklausomybe-nuo-rusiskos-energijos-57-2784036) — Brussels Rejects Moscow's Claims of Dependence on Russian Energy - [Portfolio](https://portfolio.hu/global/20261013/feny-derult-a-pontos-szamokra-ennyit-fizetett-az-unio-az-orosz-energiaert-a-haboru-kitorese-ota-869396) — The Exact Numbers Have Been Revealed: This Is How Much the EU Has Paid for Russian Energy Since the Outbreak of the War - [Daily Sabah](https://dailysabah.com/business/economy/russia-touts-320b-in-european-energy-sales-eu-downplays-claim) — Russia touts $320B in European energy sales, EU downplays claim - [Euronews](https://euronews.com/2026/10/13/europe-paid-russia-209bn-for-energy-since-2022-far-below-moscows-320bn-claim) — EU paid $209bn on Russian energy, contradicts Moscow's $320bn claim ## Questions **How much does the European Commission say the EU spent on Russian energy?** The European Commission claims the EU spent €197 billion, which is equivalent to $209 billion, on Russian energy imports between March 2022 and July 2026. This figure is presented as a counterpoint to higher estimates from other sources. **What figure does Russia claim the EU spent on its energy?** Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the EU purchased Russian energy resources worth €302 billion, or $320.7 billion, since 2022. This claim is disputed by the European Commission. **What did Donald Trump claim about EU spending on Russian energy?** Former US President Donald Trump claimed that the European Union paid Russia $250 billion for energy. This figure is also contested by the European Commission's reported spending. **How has the EU's dependence on Russian energy changed?** According to the European Commission, the EU's dependence on Russian energy has significantly fallen. It decreased from 42%-45% in 2022 to 12% currently. By 2023, only 6% of the EU's total fossil fuel spending was on Russian energy. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/eu-disputes-russian-energy-spending-claims. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "EU disputes Russian energy spending claims", https://mediabias.news/business/eu-disputes-russian-energy-spending-claims