In Pics | Major European countries that depend on Russian gas

European Union is Russia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 37 per cent of its global trade in 2020. About 70 per cent of Russian gas exports and half of its oil exports go to Europe. Amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict, European leaders are caught between wanting to punish Russia for its aggression and wanting to protect their own economies. Here's a look at the European countries which heavily depend on Russian gas:

As tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated, the West decided to impose sanctions on Russia and its leaders, a move which could prove a costly affair, in turn, for it since several countries, especially in Europe, depend on Russia's gas exports for energy. Countries that sell their products to Russia will see trade revenues fall. Credit: AFP Photo

Europe relies on Russia for around 40 per cent of its natural gas. Most comes through pipelines including Yamal-Europe, which crosses Belarus and Poland to Germany, and Nord Stream 1, which goes directly to Germany. By last year Ukraine was a transit corridor largely for gas going into Slovakia, from where it continued to Austria and Italy. Credit: AFP Photo

Although EU or US sanctions on Russian gas imports are seen as unlikely, damage to pipelines or Russia stopping gas transit through Ukraine could happen. Here's a look a the countries that could be affected and to what extent they depend on Russian gas supplies. Credit: AFP Photo

North Macedonia entirely depends on Russia for its gas requirements. Credit: AFP Photo

Bosnia and Herzegovina exclusively rely on Russian gas for their energy requirements. Credit: Reuters File Photo

Moldova imports 100% of its gas from Russia. Credit: Reuters File Photo

Finland, Russia's second-biggest trading partner, imports 94% of its gas from that country. Credit: Reuters File Photo

Latvia also imports about 93% of its gas from Russia. Credit: Reuters File Photo

Balkan nation Bulgeria buys 77% of its gas from Russia. Credit: AFP File Photo

Germany, Russia’s largest trading partner in Europe, gets 49% of its supply from Russia. Credit: AFP File Photo

Italy gets 46% of its gas requirement from Russia. Credit: AFP File Photo

Poland, which is leaning towards imposing stronger sanctions on Russia amid the invasion, imports 40% gas from Russia. Credit: Reuters File Photo

France imports about 24% of its gas requirements from Russia, significantly lesser than the rest of the major European countries. Credit: AFP File Photo

Netherlands imports about 11% of gas from Russia. Credit: AFP File Photo

Romania gets just 10% of its gas from Russia. Credit: Reuters File Photo

Georgia depends the least on Russia for its gas requirements as it imports 6% of its gas from the country. Credit: AFP File Photo