Yes, instead of cheaper gas via pipelines, we now pay more for more expensive LNG, originating from the same source. The alternative is what... even more expensive american LNG?
And the real alternative is of course, deep cuts in gas consumption. Which is what RepowerEU is trying to achieve.
By the way, 2024 Russian gas imports show a slight increase only because 2023 decrease went ahead of plan. 2023 plan was 68 bcm and only 45 bcm were imported, even 2024 went ahead of reduction plan and 2025 is certain to be ahead of plan, too.
And if pipeline gas is cheaper is also up for debate, because gas is gas to the markets and the long-running supply contracts (which turned out to be worthless because Russia was suffering a conveniently-timed force majeure) had indexed prices.