The European Union on Monday officially approved a complete halt to Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, after EU energy ministers endorsed the proposal.
The move follows last week’s European Parliament vote in favor of the measure, allowing the start of formal negotiations with member state governments.
Under the new plan, imports of Russian oil, pipeline gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be permanently banned beginning in 2027.
The decision comes as the EU advances parallel efforts to restrict LNG imports from Russia, part of the bloc’s next round of sanctions against Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to EU data, Russia supplied about 20 percent of the Union’s total gas imports last year, with an increasing share in the form of LNG.
In the first half of 2025 alone, the EU imported roughly €4.5 billion ($5.3 billion) worth of Russian liquefied natural gas.
The measure marks another major step in the EU’s broader strategy to end energy dependence on Russia and strengthen energy security across the bloc.
