European Union member states have reached a landmark agreement to completely phase out gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027 — a significant milestone in the bloc’s effort to end its decades-long energy dependence on Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
At a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, October 20, energy ministers from the 27 EU countries approved the European Commission’s proposal to halt both pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia. The plan will now move to the European Parliament for final endorsement.
Denmark’s energy minister, Lars Aagaard, who currently chairs the EU’s rotating presidency, described the decision as “crucial” for Europe’s energy future. “We’ve made great strides in reducing our reliance on Russian energy, but this marks a decisive final step,” he said.
The initiative is part of a broader EU strategy to sever economic ties with Moscow and curb its war funding. The Commission is also pushing to stop LNG imports a year earlier—by January 2027—as part of a proposed sanctions package aimed at tightening financial pressure on the Kremlin.
Unlike formal sanctions, which require unanimous consent, Monday’s trade measure passed through a weighted majority—backed by at least 15 countries representing 65% of the EU’s population. Only Hungary and Slovakia voted against the move, citing fears over energy security.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned that the measure would “destroy Hungary’s secure energy supply,” arguing that the landlocked country has no practical alternative to Russian gas.
Under the new rules, no new contracts for Russian gas will be allowed from January 1, 2026. Existing agreements will be gradually wound down, with short-term contracts permitted until June 17, 2027, and long-term ones until January 1, 2028.
Although the EU has sharply reduced its dependence on Russian pipeline gas since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, several member states continue to import LNG by sea. Russian gas still represents around 13% of the EU’s total imports in 2025—worth more than €15 billion annually, according to European Commission data.
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