The European Union is preparing a sweeping plan to end all Russian gas imports by the close of 2027, advancing efforts to break its historic dependence on Moscow’s fossil fuels.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Brussels will propose a ban in June on all new gas purchase contracts with Russia, including spot deals, which still make up about a third of Russian gas imports into the bloc. The measure would take effect by the end of this year, Bloomberg reported on May 5.
The EU is also working on a phase-out of remaining Russian gas supplies delivered via pipelines and long-term LNG contracts. These restrictions would be implemented over a longer transition period, ending in 2027.
The initiative comes after a delay in publishing the EU’s energy “roadmap” earlier this year, as the bloc weighed the geopolitical implications of US-led diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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While Russian gas flows to Europe have dropped sharply since the 2022 full-scale invasion, Moscow remains a notable supplier via Turkey and liquefied natural gas shipments.
The proposed measures are expected to open the door to increased US LNG exports to Europe, an energy pivot previously championed by the US President Donald Trump.
Despite lingering concerns about energy costs and supply security, EU officials believe the impact on prices will be minimal, as a new wave of global LNG supply is expected to enter the market in the coming years.
Earlier, a broad bipartisan majority in the US Senate supported a bill that would enforce tough new sanctions on Russia and impose steep tariffs on countries that keep purchasing its oil and gas, unless Vladimir Putin agrees to meaningful negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
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