The European Union is preparing to introduce new measures aimed at ending all imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027. As a first step, the European Commission intends to ban all new contracts for Russian gas, including spot market deals, by the end of 2025. These spot deals currently represent about one-third of the EU’s remaining gas imports from Russia.
The proposed restrictions would apply not only to new agreements but also to existing long-term contracts. However, canceling these older deals presents legal challenges, as many require buyers to pay for gas even if they do not receive any deliveries.
Achieving a complete ban by 2027 will depend heavily on the EU’s ability to secure alternative sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The bloc is seeking increased supplies from the United States, Qatar, Canada, and African countries. Talks with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration about ramping up American LNG exports are part of broader trade negotiations.
Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, over 40% of the EU’s gas imports came from Russia. That share has since declined to around 19%, yet cutting off Russian gas entirely remains a difficult task. One major challenge is the sharp rise in LNG imports from Russia, which have surged to record levels following significant reductions in pipeline deliveries by Gazprom.
