Britain Condemns Russia’s War Against Ukraine but Buys Gas From TotalEnergies, Which Exports It From Russia

Despite London’s strong anti-Russian rhetoric, the UK prime minister’s residence and key government departments are heated with gas supplied by a subsidiary of the French firm TotalEnergies. According to reporting by Politico, the multibillion-pound contract was signed with TotalEnergies Gas & Power under the government procurement scheme "Supply of Energy 2," which has a total potential value of up to £8 billion. The contract covers not only 10 Downing Street but also the Foreign Office, the Treasury, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, headed by Ed Miliband. Other recipients include the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as the Bank of England, local councils, schools, and NHS hospitals.

While the government has declined to confirm whether the contract also covers the prime minister’s flat above Number 11, Politico notes that the UK state, in general, is being heated with gas from a company that continues to trade in Russian LNG. TotalEnergies holds a 20% stake in the Yamal LNG project, based in the Russian Arctic. Gas produced there is liquefied and shipped to EU countries, including France, Spain, and Belgium, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to estimates by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, EU imports of Russian LNG in the 2024/25 fiscal year could reach $8.5 billion. TotalEnergies claims its deliveries of Russian gas are under pre-invasion contracts that it is unable to terminate.

Against the backdrop of Keir Starmer’s declarations of a "tough stance" on Russia, such revelations are drawing increasing criticism. In April, at an energy security conference, he stated that "every family and business in the UK has paid the price for Russia weaponizing energy," stressing that the country must "cut off the revenue streams from energy exports that continue to fund Putin’s war chest." Speaking at the G7 summit, the prime minister urged allies to "squeeze Russia’s energy revenues." Yet as Politico notes, such statements stand in contrast to contracts that continue to generate income for a company with a stake in Russian energy exports.

Criticism of the TotalEnergies contract is mounting both domestically and abroad. Sviatoslava Romanko, director of the Ukrainian organization Razom We Stand, called the situation "outrageous": "UK government buildings are being heated with gas from a company still linked to Russian LNG… Every contract with TotalEnergies sends the message that the UK is willing to look away from the suffering of Ukrainians," Politico quoted her as saying.

Although TotalEnergies Gas & Power sources gas for the UK market exclusively from domestic supplies, in line with the UK’s ban on Russian LNG imports, the parent company remains a key player in delivering Russian fuel to the EU. According to Phuc-Vinh Nguyen of the Jacques Delors Institute, such partnerships make the UK’s policy contradictory: "It allows Britain to publicly declare, ‘we officially ban Russian energy,’ while still working with a company that is directly engaged with the Russian regime."

TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné previously explained: "As long as European authorities have not imposed sanctions and ask us to continue delivering Russian LNG to the region, we will do so." In an interview with CNBC, he did not rule out the possibility of new investments in Russia should peace be achieved, calling the war "horrific" and "traumatic." The company maintains that it operates strictly within EU energy and sanctions policy, and that shipments of Russian LNG are limited to long-term contracts signed before the invasion.

Nevertheless, as Politico points out, TotalEnergies remains "one of the largest buyers of Russian gas and a key player in bringing Putin’s fossil fuels to the global market," according to Maeve Rusnock of Global Witness. She added that it is deeply concerning that "Britain’s highest government institutions are still receiving gas from TotalEnergies," despite public commitments to supporting Ukraine and transitioning to clean energy.

Although the contract with TotalEnergies was signed in February 2023 under Rishi Sunak’s government, it is now Keir Starmer’s Labour Party that must respond to the controversy surrounding it. As Politico notes, the agreement has for the first time sparked concern among members of the ruling party. Tanmanjeet Dhesi, chair of the Defence Select Committee, stated that the government must "review this specific contract to ensure it does not undermine our unwavering support for Ukraine." He stressed that any indirect support for Russia’s war machine must be avoided, "including deals with companies that help sustain the Russian economy."

A similar view was expressed by Foreign Affairs Committee member Phil Brickell: "Handing taxpayer money to a company still linked to Russia, while our Ukrainian allies suffer from Putin’s barbaric bombardments in this war of aggression, is unacceptable," he said. In his view, the government should "exit the contract at the earliest opportunity."

However, as Politico notes, terminating the agreement will not be easy. The Crown Commercial Service contract with TotalEnergies runs through February 2027, while separate "call-off" agreements with departments such as the Home Office and Ministry of Defence have been extended to 2030. In addition to the main contract, government institutions also procure gas through other frameworks. For example, LASER, owned by Kent County Council, manages frameworks through which the Bank of England and the councils of Lancashire, Hampshire, Bristol, and Southampton purchase gas. A separate contract with the combined councils of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Telford and Wrekin, and Worcestershire takes effect in April 2026 and runs through 2030, with a potential value of up to £100 million.

While TotalEnergies remains one of the few suppliers capable of meeting the government’s large-scale energy needs, analysts point out that viable alternatives do exist—if the political will is there.

Following the Politico investigation, Ukrainian activists formally called on the UK government to cancel contracts with companies linked to the Russian energy sector. In an open letter to Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, seven Ukrainian and pro-Ukrainian organizations urged the government to sever all ties with suppliers connected to Russian fossil fuels. At the center of their demands is the contract worth up to £8 billion with a TotalEnergies subsidiary that continues to deliver Russian gas to Europe.

According to the letter’s authors, such deals "undermine the UK’s public commitment to breaking free from Putin’s war-fueled energy" and "send a signal readily embraced by companies profiting from the war." They argue that these practices discredit the broader Western sanctions regime. The activists demanded full disclosure of all Whitehall contracts with TotalEnergies, an end to cooperation with companies tied to Russian energy, and a clear plan to transition government buildings to clean, independent sources of energy.

"The fact that British taxpayers are funding TotalEnergies is not just a mistake—it’s outrageous," said Iryna Ptashnyk, senior researcher at the Razom We Stand initiative. "The UK government must show leadership and terminate these contracts immediately."

The UK government insists that all purchases comply with sanctions policy and emphasizes its efforts to transition to clean energy. A CCS spokesperson stated: "We are transforming the UK into a clean energy superpower… and have ended all imports of Russian fossil fuels in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine." Representatives from LASER and local authorities likewise affirmed that their contracts are in line with sanctions and will be reviewed if necessary.

Still, as Politico notes, walking away from cooperation with TotalEnergies will be difficult from both a legal and logistical standpoint—and the decision ultimately hinges not on contractual terms, but on political will.