European Union lawmakers and member states reached a historic agreement on Wednesday to end all Russian gas imports by autumn 2027. The deal aims to cut off a significant source of funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine. It represents a long-sought compromise between EU capitals and the European Parliament, which had pushed for a quicker ban. This deal marks a key step in the EU’s efforts to reduce dependency on Russian energy.
Under the new agreement, long-term pipeline contracts will be banned by September 30, 2027, if storage levels allow, or by November 1, 2027, at the latest. For liquefied natural gas (LNG), long-term contracts will be prohibited starting January 1, 2027. Short-term contracts for both LNG and pipeline gas will be phased out earlier, starting in 2026. The EU hopes these moves will break its reliance on Russian energy, following Russia’s use of gas supplies as leverage in its conflict with Ukraine.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen celebrated the deal on social media, calling it a victory for European energy security and independence. He stated, “No more blackmail. No more market manipulation by Putin.” The new deal also includes provisions for EU companies to invoke “force majeure,” allowing them to break existing contracts due to the import ban. However, the agreement still needs final approval from the European Parliament and member states.
In addition to the gas ban, the deal calls for the European Commission to draft a plan to stop Russian oil imports to Hungary and Slovakia by 2027. These two countries had been granted exemptions from previous sanctions on Russian oil. Despite their close ties to Russia, Hungary and Slovakia will now have to find alternatives to Russian oil by the end of 2027.
The EU’s move to cut Russian energy imports is a response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion, the EU has worked to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow. Russian gas, which made up 45% of EU imports in 2021, now accounts for just 19% in 2024. While the EU has reduced pipeline deliveries, it continues to rely on LNG, with Russia still supplying about 20% of the bloc’s LNG imports.
