Part 5/14:
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Europe has made efforts to reduce its energy reliance on Moscow, with most nations halting direct imports of Russian crude oil and fuel. However, significant loopholes remain, allowing refiners and traders in countries like Turkey, India, and China to resell Russian oil after refining, thus bypassing sanctions. According to a Helsinki-based think tank, Europe spends more annually on Russian fossil fuels ($21.9 billion) than it allocates for direct aid to Ukraine ($18.7 billion).