Russia says it received $3.6 billion less than it forecast from March oil and gas sales, suggesting the Ukraine war and Western sanctions hit exports

Russia made less money than expected from oil and gas sales in March, suggesting that the Kremlin underestimated the impact of the war in Ukraine.

Revenue from oil and gas sales in March was less than the finance ministry forecast, according to data published Tuesday.

Europe typically gets 40% of its natural gas from Russia, which is the world's top gas exporter. Western nations have stopped buying Russian supplies in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.

Russia is expected to make around 790 billion rubles in revenue from oil and natural gas sales in March, according to the finance ministry. The figure was closer to 500 billion rubles.

Natural gas exports were lower than expected in March, according to the finance ministry.

The oil and gas revenues were lower than expected in February. In April, it expects to earn more revenue from energy sales.

The European Commission said it could reduce EU demand for Russian gas by two-thirds by the end of the year, under a plan to diversify supplies, after President Joe Biden pledged to ban Russian energy imports. The US wants to squeeze Russian natural gas exports.

Lithuania became the first EU country to completely cut off Russian gas imports over the weekend, according to its energy minister.

According to the country's pipeline operator, just over a quarter of the gas supply came from Russia. The country would import natural gas from the US and Norway, according to the report.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Russia's attempt to require unfriendly countries to pay for its gas in rubles would be a clear violation of the contract.

After war broke out, Germany halted plans for a gas line that would carry gas between Russia and Europe. Germany said on Monday that it had taken control of a local unit.

Shell said it was pulling out of its joint ventures with Russia's OAO Gazprom and the British oil company said it was dumping its 20% stake in the Russian oil firm.

Western sanctions could wipe out 15 years of economic growth in Russia.