BRUSSELS — The European Commission announced plans Tuesday to completely end Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, part of a broader strategy to cut the European Union’s energy ties with Moscow.
As part of the plan, the Commission will propose legislation next month that would ban new gas contracts with Russia. Under the proposal, short-term gas purchases from Russia would be prohibited starting in late 2025, while long-term contracts would be banned from the end of 2027.
The move also includes less binding measures targeting Russian oil and outlines new steps to reduce imports of Russian nuclear fuel and uranium.
“Today the European Union sends a very clear message to Russia — no more,” said EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. “No more will we allow our member states to be blackmailed, no more will we indirectly help fill up the war chest in the Kremlin.”
However, the proposal is likely to face resistance from countries such as Hungary and Slovakia, which still depend heavily on Russian energy. While the European Commission can propose laws, they must be approved through negotiations with member states and the European Parliament.
Despite growing political and economic challenges, including rising gas imports and fading public support for sanctions, the Commission insists the move shows its long-term resolve to end dependence on Russian fuel.
Jørgensen said the proposals do not require unanimous support. “I hope that everybody will move forward, obviously, but if they don’t, that is also okay,” he said, referring to possible opposition from Hungary.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has significantly reduced its reliance on Moscow. It has cut pipeline gas imports by about two-thirds and banned seaborne coal and oil deliveries. However, the bloc still buys large volumes of Russian liquefied natural gas and uranium.
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