The European Commission has proposed a binding regulation to end all Russian gas imports—including both pipeline gas and LNG—by January 1, 2028, leveraging a qualification majority vote to bypass expected vetoes from Hungary and Slovakia. Instead of classifying the measure as sanctions (which require unanimous approval), it will be framed under EU trade and energy law, allowing approval by at least 15 member states representing 65 percent of the EU population

Under the plan, new contracts for Russian gas and LNG will be banned from January 1, 2026, while short-term contracts signed before June 17, 2025 will expire by June 17, 2026. Long-term supply deals and existing LNG terminal services associated with Russia will terminate on January 1, 2028 Landlocked nations, notably Hungary and Slovakia, will benefit from derogations allowing them to continue imports until full phase-out in 2027

Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen stressed that while he understands the difficulties faced by countries without maritime access to LNG, the EU stands ready to facilitate cooperation with neighboring states to ease their transition . To avoid legal and financial repercussions for European firms bound by Russian supply contracts, the draft regulation allows the invocation of force majeure, positioning the import ban as a matter beyond national control rather than a breach of contracts .

Although Russia’s share of EU gas imports dropped from around 45 percent in 2021 to about 19 percent in 2024, largely due to increased LNG imports, Moscow still supplied approximately 54 billion m³ of gas and 13 million tonnes of oil to the EU in 2024 . The Commission maintains that the EU possesses enough infrastructure capacity—including unused LNG terminals and alternative pipelines—to manage the transition without jeopardizing energy security

Hungary and Slovakia have vocally opposed the move, blocking an EU Council statement this week and cautioning it would harm national energy sovereignty and raise consumer costs. Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, called the measure „absolutely unacceptable” and threatened to seek compensation for abandoned contracts binding them until 2034 . To prevent any country from obstructing EU-wide energy diversification via veto, the regulation’s legal basis ensures passage through a qualified majority – effectively neutralizing Hungary and Slovakia’s blockade

Moreover, EU member states will be required to submit national plans detailing how they will phase out Russian fossil fuels, including oil—targeting the end of oil imports by 2027—while customs and energy authorities monitor contract details and volumes to enforce compliance

This proposal underscores a decisive break from Russian energy dependency, framing it as a strategic necessity in response to Russia’s past use of energy as a geopolitical weapon and recent aggression in Ukraine . While Austria has suggested the EU should remain open to resuming Russian gas if peace is achieved, the Commission remains firm: energy reliance on Russia must end regardless of future diplomatic developments.