MOSCOW - The EU recorded its highest level of gas imports from Russia in two years this January, purchasing a total of 1.9 billion euros (approximately $2.08 billion) worth of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), TASS news agency reported Wednesday.

According to Eurostat data and TASS calculations, the EU imported 1.07 billion euros ($1.17 billion) worth of Russian LNG, marking a 17 percent increase from December 2024 and a 57 percent surge compared to January 2024. This was the highest expenditure on Russian LNG since January 2023, when purchases exceeded 1.3 billion euros ($1.42 billion).

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France led the imports, purchasing 455 million euros ($497 million) worth of LNG, followed by Spain at 261.5 million euros ($285 million), and Belgium at 256.7 million euros ($280 million). The Netherlands also raised its Russian LNG imports by 1.6 percent from December 2024, reaching 100 million euros ($109 million).

In January, the EU's imports of Russian pipeline gas totaled 833 million euros ($911 million), just 10 percent below December 2024 levels, despite the complete halt of gas transit through Ukraine.