US ‘Freedom Gas’ Fails to Outpace Russia: EU Buys More Russian Gas Than American

The United States sought to liberate its European allies from Russian energy dependence with the slogan ‘Freedom Gas.’ However, recent data reveals that Putin’s regime has expanded its position as Europe’s energy supplier. Die Welt reports that the EU imported more gas from Russia than the US for the first time in almost two years during a single quarter. Data from Brussels-based consultancy Bruegel indicates that the EU purchased 12.7 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia and 12.3 billion cubic meters from the US between April and June. While Russian gas imports saw a slight decrease from the first quarter of 2024, American gas imports declined more sharply. Austria, highlighting the risk of sudden Russian gas supply disruptions, has emphasized the need to swiftly reduce dependence.