France funding the war? Le Monde finds Paris still buying uranium from Moscow
Photo: Sales of Russian uranium to France declined but continued in 2025 (Getty Images)
Despite four years of full-scale war in Ukraine, France still relies on Rosatom due to the absence of nuclear fuel from EU sanctions lists, according to Le Monde.
The outlet reports that a significant portion of France’s natural uranium comes from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Russian state-owned Rosatom remains a key player in these countries through its subsidiary, Uranium One.
Imports of Russian enriched uranium to France have fallen from 67% in 2022 to 24% in 2025, yet Greenpeace noted that deliveries continued throughout last year.
Additionally, France has resumed sending spent uranium to a plant in Siberia, currently the only facility in the world capable of reprocessing this type of fuel for reuse.
The European Commission has announced plans to replace Russian fuel, but no specific timeline has been given. Meanwhile, in 2024, EU imports of Russian uranium exceeded $835 million.
Dependence on Russian nuclear services is observed not only in the EU but also in the United States. Despite legislative bans, Russia remained a leading supplier of fuel for US nuclear power plants in 2024.
The EU is preparing its 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions, aimed at limiting Moscow’s energy revenues, neutralizing its shadow fleet, and blocking sanction-evading schemes.
Meanwhile, the Russian economy ended 2025 in catastrophic condition. Oil prices fell to a five-year low, and the space industry regressed to 1961 levels.
Additionally, US lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to take radical measures, from targeted sanctions to mass seizure of vessels transporting Russian oil.
