Four years ago (2022), 45% of the European Union's gas imports came from Russia.

Omissions

• The 45% share corresponds to 2021, not 2022: both the European Commission (REPowerEU) and Eurostat attribute the 45% figure to 2021, the year before the invasion.
• By 2022 Russia's share of EU gas imports had already dropped substantially (Russia's share of gaseous natural gas fell to 16% by 2025, and to 10.2% by Q2 2026 per Eurostat), so describing '45%' as the level 'four years ago' (2022) is imprecise.
• The claim's framing 'Russia tried to blackmail us' relates to the 2022 supply cuts and ruble-payment demands, whereas the 45% figure predates that (2021); the two elements refer to slightly different points in time.

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat — EU trade with Russia, latest developments (Statistics Explained)Russia's share in EU imports of natural gas in gaseous state decreased from 45% in 2021 to 16% in 2025.
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — REPowerEU: 4 years onImports of Russian LNG and pipeline gas dropped from a 45% share of overall EU gas imports in 2021, to 12% [in 2025].
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — REPowerEU: phase out of Russian energy importssince the beginning of the war, the EU's dependency on Russian gas has fallen from 45% of overall imports to 12% in 2025