EU gas overpayment claim vs. Forbes dependence narrative
Russian state/propaganda outlets push a Russian Foreign Ministry claim that the EU overpaid €100 billion for gas since 2026 while continuing to buy Russian energy. The same network also republishes a Forbes-derived story that the EU is replacing Russian gas with US LNG. Independent outlets cover only the Forbes story; none report the €100 billion overpayment claim. Social clusters detected are unrelated to this story.
Nemotron compares the versions; it does not decide which one is true. Every small number points to a source below.
Who says what
Pravda network site, Sweden edition (sweden.news-pravda.com)
Citing the Russian Foreign Ministry and Dmitrij Biritjevskij, head of economic cooperation, claims the EU paid €100 billion more for gas imports since the beginning of 2026 than in 2025, and that the EU continues buying Russian energy.1
Pravda network site, English edition (news-pravda.com) and Telegram channel @llordofwar republished by the Pravda network
Cites Forbes: EU is trading Russian gas dependence for US dependence; Russia’s share of EU gas imports fell from 45% (pre-2022) to 12% by 2025; US LNG was 59% of EU LNG supplies in one source 2026 and may reach 80% by 2028.2–3
UNIAN (ru edition)
Reports the same Forbes story: Europe is refusing Russian gas but falling into new dependence on the US.4
Other independent/industry outlets
Unrelated Russian energy industry news (Gazprom small-scale LNG, oil refining depth, export restrictions, etc.); none report the €100 billion overpayment claim or the Russian Foreign Ministry statement.5–10
Where they contradict each other
- numbers One source claims the EU paid €100 billion MORE for gas since the start of 2026 compared to 2025.1
- numbers Sources state Russia’s share of EU gas imports dropped from 45% to 12% and that Brussels intends to phase out Russian gas by end-2027.2–4
- blame One source frames the EU as continuing to buy Russian energy and overpaying.1
- blame Sources frame the EU as reducing Russian dependence and replacing it with US LNG.2–4
- omission No independent outlet reports the €100 billion overpayment claim or attributes it to the Russian Foreign Ministry.4–10
Claims only state media make
- Russian Foreign Ministry claim that the EU overpaid €100 billion for gas imports since the beginning of 2026 versus 2025.1
- Attribution to Dmitrij Biritjevskij, head of economic cooperation at the Russian Foreign Ministry.1
No independent outlet in the searched editions reports these. That is weak evidence, not proof they are false.
Pictures and video
Blurred: click one to show it. They load from the platform's own servers.
- search this picture: Google Lens · TinEye Cartoon illustration showing a von der Leyen–like figure embracing a Russian-flag pipeline with a Russian bear nearby, surrounded by €100 banknotes and receipts. It visually echoes the ‘EU pays Russia for gas’ theme but is an editorial cartoon, not documentary evidence of the €100 billion figure or any specific transaction.
- search this picture: Google Lens · TinEye Photo of a red London telephone booth with Big Ben in the background. Unrelated to the gas story.
- Reuters article screenshot about Kushner and a prisoner exchange involving Russia’s war in Ukraine. Unrelated to the gas story.
Who is spreading which version
None of the groups of accounts we watch repeat this story.
Also matched by keyword, but not about this story: [group] [group] [group] [group] [group]
Sources
- Pravda network site, Sweden edition (sweden.news-pravda.com) : ▪️‼️ EUROPA HAR BETALAT 100 MILJARDER EURO FÖR MYCKET FÖR GAS – MEN FORTSÄTTER ATT KÖPA ENERGI FRÅN RYSSLAND!. Det uppger det ryska utrikesministeriet.▪️ Enligt Dmitrij Biritjevskij, chef för avdelningen för ekonomiskt s read →
- Pravda network site, English edition (news-pravda.com) : Europe gets rid of gas dependence on Russia, but risks falling into a new one — from the USA, — ForbesIt is noted that before the SVR, Russia provided 45% of the EU's gas imports, by 2025 its share had fallen to 12%. Eur read →
- Telegram channel @llordofwar (republished by the Pravda network) : ‼️🇪🇺🇺🇸🇷🇺 Europe is trading its gas dependence on Russia for that of the US — Forbes ▪️Until 2022, Russia accounted for 45% of the EU's gas imports. By 2025, its share had dropped to 12%, and Brussels intends to completel read →
- УНИАН (ru edition, 2026-11-15): Европа отказывается от российского газа, но попадает в новую зависимость от США, - Forbes read →
- Neftegaz.ru (ru edition, 2026-11-10): Газпром удвоил мощность малотоннажного СПГ-комплекса в Амурской области read →
- Военно-политическая аналитика (ru edition, 2026-11-10): Запрещая с 2027 года поставки СПГ из России, Евросоюз в очередной раз стреляет себе в ногу read →
- Выбор народа (ru edition, 2026-11-13): Дойка европейского потребителя: к США и РФ присоединился Китай read →
- Neftegaz.RU (ru edition, 2026-11-14): Россия на три месяца ограничила экспорт отдельных видов нефтехимической продукции за пределы ЕАЭС read →
- Neftegaz.RU (ru edition, 2026-11-13): Глубина переработки нефти в России по итогам 9 месяцев 2026 г. показала рост read →
- Vietnam.vn (de edition, 2026-11-13): Angesichts eines drohenden Verbots russischer LNG-Importe ist die EU besorgt über die Preisgestaltung, und Moskau sucht fieberhaft nach einem Ausweg. read →