Overview
- EU negotiators agreed a phased ban that ends Russian LNG by 31 December 2026 and pipeline gas by the end of September 2027, with narrowly defined extensions to November 2027 for storage shortfalls.
- New gas contracts will be barred six months after the law enters into force, with existing short-term deals signed before 17 June 2025 ending on 25 April 2026 for LNG and 17 June 2026 for pipeline supplies, and long-term LNG contracts ending on 1 January 2027.
- The package includes anti-circumvention provisions along with new transparency, monitoring, and traceability rules to police Russian gas in EU markets.
- Member states must submit national diversification plans for gas and oil by 1 March 2026, and a progressive oil phase-out is envisaged without firm dates.
- EU leaders say the move strengthens energy security and cuts funding for Russia’s war, while the Kremlin argues it will raise consumer prices and erode EU competitiveness as Russia’s share of EU gas has already dropped to roughly 12–13%.