Despite three years of full-scale aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, Western countries are still actively trading with Russia, purchasing its goods worth billions of dollars. Despite numerous sanctions, the import of Russian energy resources and other strategic products into the US and EU countries remains significant.
This is reported by Business • Media
US Trade Relations with Russia
In the first half of 2025, the volume of Russian goods imported into the US decreased to $2.5 billion, although four years ago this figure was $14.14 billion. However, overall since January 2022, the United States has imported $24.51 billion worth of products from Russia. In particular, last year, the volume of Russian fertilizer imports to the US rose to $1.27 billion, exceeding the 2021 figure ($1.14 billion). Additionally, in 2024, the US purchased enriched uranium and plutonium from Russia worth approximately $624 million, as well as palladium worth $878 million.
“The import of goods from Russia to the US fell to $2.5 billion in the first half of 2025 from $14.14 billion four years earlier; however, since January 2022, the US has imported $24.51 billion worth of Russian goods.”
The European Union’s Position on Importing Russian Goods
Thanks to sanctions, the European Union has reduced exports to Russia by 61% and imports of Russian goods by 89% from the first quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2025. At the same time, the import of certain strategic goods from Russia continues. Among them are oil, nickel, natural gas, fertilizers, pig iron, and steel. As of the second quarter of 2025, Russia remained the largest supplier of fertilizers to the EU, with its market share increasing from 28% to 34% over the past four years.