Gas prices in Europe are rising, and it's making Russia richer, which could deepen the financial gap between what Europe pays Russia for energy and what it gives Ukraine in aid. This increase in prices comes after Ukraine's recent military action in the Russian region of Kursk, where a major gas pipeline runs from Russia to Europe. Traders are worried that this could disrupt gas supplies, driving prices up by 13% in just one week.

Since Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, European countries have paid Russia a staggering €200 billion for fossil fuels like oil and gas. Meanwhile, the combined support from the EU and the US to help Ukraine only totals €185 billion. Even though Europe has tried to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, it’s clear that much of the money Europe spends on energy still ends up funding Russia’s war efforts.

Experts warn that while Europe has made progress, it’s still buying significant amounts of gas from Russia. In jus...