RFE/RL reports Russian gas exports to Europe increase by nearly 8 percent in 2015, despite tensions over Ukraine and EU plans to cut its energy dependence on Russia. Germany imported a record 45.3 billion cubic meters of Russian gas in 2015. Russia’s exports to Germany increased by 17.1 percent. Exports to France rose by 36.8 percent, to Italy by 12.6 percent and to the UK by 10.2 percent. Gazprom says it is exporting more to Europe because Europe is producing less gas.