By Ayomide Otitoju
European Union member states have agreed to phase out all remaining gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027, marking a decisive move to end the bloc’s longstanding energy dependence on Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Energy ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday approved a European Commission proposal to gradually halt both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia, pending approval by the European Parliament.
Denmark’s Energy Minister, Lars Aagaard, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, described the decision as a “crucial step” toward achieving full European energy independence.
“Although we have worked hard and pushed to get Russian gas and oil out of Europe in recent years, we are not there yet,” Aagaard said.
The measure forms part of the EU’s broader energy diversification strategy and follows multiple sanctions and policy efforts launched since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The European Commission is also advocating for LNG imports from Russia to be phased out a year earlier, by January 2027, as part of a new sanctions package designed to weaken Moscow’s war economy.
While trade restrictions such as Monday’s decision require a qualified majority from member states, sanctions demand unanimous approval from all 27 nations — a consensus often difficult to achieve.
According to EU diplomats, Hungary and Slovakia opposed the latest plan, citing heavy reliance on Russian gas imports due to geographical limitations. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto criticized the move, warning that it could undermine his country’s energy security.
Under the new regulation, no new Russian gas contracts will be permitted after January 1, 2026. Existing agreements will be phased out gradually, allowing imports under short-term contracts until June 17, 2026, and under long-term deals until January 1, 2028.
Despite a sharp decline in Russian pipeline gas deliveries since the Ukraine invasion, several EU countries have increased purchases of Russian LNG. Russian gas still represents an estimated 13 percent of EU imports in 2025, valued at more than €15 billion annually, according to European Commission data.
