Group 1 - The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict reveals a duality in European nations' stance, as they provide military and economic support to Ukraine while simultaneously purchasing energy from Russia, indirectly funding its military efforts [1][9][26] - In the first half of 2025, the EU imported Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth €4.48 billion, indicating a continued reliance on Russian energy despite claims of reducing dependency [3][11][24] - Russia's natural gas exports to Europe are projected to exceed 50 billion cubic meters in 2024, marking an 18% to 20% increase from the previous year, despite a general decline in overall exports [5][7][30] Group 2 - The EU's energy imports from Russia accounted for approximately 19% in 2025, highlighting the challenges in completely eliminating reliance on Russian gas [7][22] - Despite sanctions, Russia's economy has shown resilience, with a projected GDP growth of 4.1% in 2024, supported significantly by energy exports [9][32] - The EU's sanctions have primarily targeted oil and coal, while natural gas imports remain less restricted, allowing Russia to maintain a steady revenue stream [11][28] Group 3 - Ukraine's decision to stop the transit of Russian gas through its territory as of January 1, 2025, is a significant move aimed at cutting off Russian revenue, but it may lead to energy shortages in Europe [19][22] - The EU's financial assistance to Ukraine, while substantial, pales in comparison to the funds flowing to Russia through energy purchases, raising questions about the effectiveness of the support [17][26][30] - The conflict has entered a phase of attrition, with both sides suffering casualties, and Ukraine's reliance on international support remains critical for its defense efforts [32][34]