When US President Donald Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, one of his bargaining chips to encourage Putin to make progress toward a ceasefire in Ukraine will be to ease US sanctions on Russia’s energy industry and exports.
Trump has also threatened tougher sanctions if there is no progress.
Here is how sanctions have impacted Russian energy exports since the start of the conflict.
Natural gas and LNG
Russia was the top supplier of natural gas to Europe before the war. Most gas travelled through four pipeline routes: Nord Stream running under the Baltic Sea, the Yamal line crossing Poland, transit via Ukraine, and the Turkstream line.
Europe also imports Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).
In 2021, total Russian gas imports to the EU totalled 150 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year, or 45 per cent of its total imports, and have fallen to 52 bcm or 19 per cent since, according to the European Commission.
While the EU has not imposed sanctions on Russian pipeline gas imports, contract disputes and damage to Nord Stream caused by an explosion, have cut supplies.