Overview

• After a Tuesday phone call with President Trump, Ursula von der Leyen said the European Commission will propose speeding up the phase‑out of Russian oil and gas imports.
• She said the Commission will shortly present a new sanctions package that includes measures on crypto, banking and the energy sector, with further steps against evasion channels under review.
• Trump has signaled support for tougher U.S. sanctions on Russia on the condition that all NATO allies stop buying Russian oil and that allies impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports.
• The EU’s current plan aims to end Russian oil imports by late 2027 and gas by 2028, but Brussels has not yet released new target dates for an accelerated timetable.
• Prospects for rapid action face headwinds as Hungary and Slovakia still purchase Russian oil, Turkey remains a major buyer of cheap Russian energy, and Russian LNG continues to reach the EU.