A deal has been reached between MEPs and EU member states to ban all imports of Russian gas into the European Union by autumn 2027, it was announced today — a measure aimed at depriving Moscow of a major source of funding for its war in Ukraine.

“It is the dawn of a new era, that of Europe’s full energy independence from Russia,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

The 2027 cutoff date is a compromise between the European Parliament, which wanted an earlier ban, and the member states, which asked for more time.

“We did it,” said EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen with evident satisfaction. “No more blackmail attempts. No more market manipulation by Putin. We stand in solidarity with Ukraine,” he stressed.

Pipeline gas and LNG timelines

For pipeline gas, the ban on long-term purchase contracts — the most sensitive, as they can last decades — will take effect on 30 September 2027, provided gas reserves are sufficient, and at the latest by 1 November 2027.

For liquefied natural gas (LNG), the ban on long-term contracts will apply from 1 January 2027, according to earlier statements by von der Leyen.

For short-term contracts, the ban will apply on:

• 25 April 2026 for LNG
• 17 June 2026 for pipeline gas

This timeline still requires formal approval by member states and the European Parliament, but the agreement reached last night paves the way for a smooth vote.

European companies will be able to cite “force majeure” to legally justify terminating contracts due to the EU’s import ban.

Orban defies the EU

The European Commission chose to propose legislation rather than sanctions because it can be approved by an enhanced majority, avoiding a veto from Hungary and Slovakia, two countries seen as close to Moscow.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán once again defied the EU in late November, assuring Vladimir Putin during a meeting at the Kremlin that Hungary would continue importing Russian hydrocarbons.

The compromise reached by EU negotiators also requires the Commission to present, within the coming months, a proposal to end Russian gas imports by Hungary and Slovakia by the end of 2027.

The EU had already decided in 2022 to phase out Russian oil, but granted exceptions to these two landlocked countries.

The shrinking share of Russian gas

Nearly four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Brussels aims to cut off Moscow from the revenue generated by its hydrocarbons.

The share of Russian gas in EU imports dropped from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024.

But while Europe reduced pipeline gas imports, it increasingly turned to LNG shipped by sea, regasified in ports, and fed into the European network.

After the United States (45%), Russia remains a major supplier, accounting for 20% of the EU’s LNG imports in 2024 — about 20 billion cubic meters out of 100 billion.

Overall, the EU’s imports of Russian natural gas are expected to reach €15 billion this year.