01/09/2023 (Agence Europe) – Imports from Russia to the EU accounted for just 1.7% of total European imports in June 2023, according to the latest figures published by Eurostat on 1 September. In February 2022, 9.6% of EU imports came from Russia. For example, the EU’s trade deficit with Russia fell from €18 billion in March 2022 to €0.4 billion in June 2023, mainly as a result of import restrictions on fossil fuels. It should be noted, however, that the March trade deficit of €18 billion was inflated by the rise in Russian energy prices following the outbreak of war. EU exports to Russia have also fallen since the start of the war, from €3.4 billion to €2.9 billion between March 2022 and June 2023. See Eurostat figures: https://aeur.eu/f/8el (LM)