EU to End All Russian Gas Imports by 2027

The European Union has set a definitive deadline to sever its remaining energy ties with Russia, approving a full ban on imports of Russian natural gas by 2027. The move finalizes a key pillar of the bloc's strategy to cut off funding for Russia's war in Ukraine and achieve energy independence.

Following a provisional political agreement, the European Parliament and member states have formally approved legislation mandating a complete phase-out [17777]. The plan establishes a binding timeline, requiring a stop to all imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) no later than 2027 [17464]. LNG is natural gas cooled into a liquid for transport by ship.

The agreement represents a decisive break from a once-dominant supplier. Before Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the EU relied on Russia for around 40% of its gas imports [17919]. That share has since fallen below 10% for pipeline gas, but Russian LNG shipments have persisted [17919]. The new rules aim to close this final channel.

The legislation includes specific phase-out dates for different contract types. While new LNG contracts are prohibited immediately, a critical exemption allows pre-war, long-term agreements to continue until they expire, with a final cutoff at the start of 2027 [46123]. Some measures target an earlier end for LNG and short-term contracts [17919], with one provision setting an LNG ban for April 2026 [23021].

The 2027 deadline provides certainty for governments and energy companies to secure alternative supplies and accelerate investments in renewable energy [17919]. "The goal is to build a resilient energy market less vulnerable to outside pressure," an official stated [17464].

However, the path to 2027 is not without challenges. Hungary and Slovakia have announced plans to legally challenge the measures [18740]. Furthermore, recent data shows EU imports of Russian LNG actually increased in 2025, highlighting the practical difficulty of unwinding energy dependencies while avoiding supply shortages [44608]. Critics argue that continued payments, estimated at billions of euros annually, still fund the Kremlin's war effort [44572].

The EU maintains that the clear 2027 timeline is a necessary compromise, balancing the urgency of sanctions with the practicalities of a continent-wide energy transition [18090].