What is the current state of EU-Russia economic relations and what challenges does the EU face?

The European Union controls the majority of Russia's frozen €300 billion in reserves and has implemented 15 rounds of sanctions, significantly reducing its reliance on Russian energy. Previously importing 40% of its natural gas from Russia, the EU has drastically decreased this dependency since 2022. However, economic pressures are mounting as European gas prices for March delivery fell by 10% after speculation around US-Russia talks. The EU's primary challenge will be maintaining unity among member states if the United States decides to soften its stance on Russia, potentially creating divisions in the Western approach to sanctions.