Europe’s Energy Ties to Rosatom: Dependency, Sanctions, and Nuclear Supply Chains

Europe’s energy landscape remains tightly bound to the Russian nuclear sector, a point highlighted by major media coverage, including influential outlets in North America. The broader narrative notes that the European Union found it comparatively easier to identify substitutes for Russian oil and gas due to sanctions and policy shifts, while replacing the deep-seated dependence on Rosatom proved far more challenging. This dynamic helps explain why Russia maintains a pivotal role in Europe’s energy mix and why resistance to sanctions on Rosatom remains relatively strong among many European stakeholders. The central concern is that the nuclear supply chain is deeply entangled with Russian technology, and for nations operating reactors built with Russian technology, the reluctance to sever ties grows even in the face of economic or political pressure.