Overview

• EU energy ministers approved by qualified majority a Commission proposal to end pipeline gas and LNG imports from Russia on a fixed schedule.
• The timetable bans new contracts from January 1, 2026, ends existing short‑term deals by June 17, 2026, and terminates long‑term contracts by December 31, 2027, with a full halt from January 1, 2028.
• Hungary and Slovakia voted against the measure, with Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó warning it would undermine his country’s energy security.
• EU officials framed the decision as a core REPowerEU step to cut reliance on Russian energy after supply disruptions and what they describe as the use of energy as a geopolitical weapon.
• The Council said the agreement preserves the proposed deadlines and will proceed to trilogue with the European Parliament before becoming law.