Despite von der Leyen's efforts: Russia's exports grew by 18%, Europe is the third

Despite the sanctions, Russian exports grew by 18% last year and reached $330 billion. This is reported by the Institute of German Economics (IW).

According to IW, the European Union remains Russia's third most important trading partner with a total turnover of about EUR 67.5 billion, Bild newspaper writes.

"In Europe, the volume of imports from Russia has declined sharply, but has not disappeared. Germany bought $ 9.5 billion worth of goods from Moscow in 2024, France and the Netherlands — about $ 6 billion each, and Hungary, on the contrary, increased imports by 31%, maintaining close economic ties with the Kremlin,"Bild telegram channel in Russian writes*.

China is still the main buyer of Russian goods. In 2024, he purchased about $ 130 billion worth of oil, gas and coal from the Russian Federation. The second place belongs to India, which before the start of the special operation on Ukraine ranked 12th among Russia's trading partners. Now it actively imports Russian oil.

Trade with the Russian Federation was also increased by Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Brazil and Armenia.

As EADaily reported, Russia reserves the right to respond to EU sanctions, the reaction will be verified, adequate and taking into account Moscow's interests. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, commenting on the 19th package of EU sanctions against Russia.

*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent