EU Commission aims to ban Russian LNG imports by early 2027

Brussels (dpa) – The European Commission aims to move forward a ban on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia into the European Union by one year, to the beginning of 2027, as part of the bloc’s 19th package of sanctions on Russia.

“Europe is increasing its pressure,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

“Russia’s war economy is sustained by the revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues,” she said.

“We are banning imports of Russian energy into European markets. It is time to turn off the tap.”

According to the Commission president, the EU was ready for the ban thanks to efforts to save energy, diversify supply, and investments in low-carbon sources of energy.

The announcement came days after von der Leyen said she aims to achieve a faster halt to European fossil fuel imports from Russia following a conversation with US President Donald Trump.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has imposed extensive import restrictions on Russian coal and oil. There have however been no gas sanctions in place so far.

According to EU figures, the bloc imported LNG from Russia worth almost 4.5 billion Euro in the first half of 2025. Last year, Moscow’s gas deliveries still accounted for around a fifth of all gas imports. More than half of these imports come in the form of LNG.

The proposal for the new sanctions package also includes further punitive measures in the financial sector and additional trade restrictions, von der Leyen said.

The bloc’s 27 member countries have to back the new package unanimously before it can enter into force. (19 September)