EU to ban Russian LNG imports under pressure from Trump
EU sources confirmed on Friday that the European Union intends to ban Russian LNG imports a year sooner than originally planned as part of the 19th package against Moscow. This change was reportedly prompted by President Donald Trump's pressure.
When it presents its package to EU envoys on Friday, the European Commission, which is the executive branch of the bloc's 27 members, will propose to bring the ban forward until Jan. 1, 2027. In general, sanctions must be approved by the majority of EU member states.
The new restrictions will also target the shadow tanker fleet of Russia, cryptocurrencies, Russian and Central Asian banks, Chinese refineries, as well as Economic Zones, a loophole in customs used by Moscow for dual-use items imported for its military.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson on Wednesday, said that any EU proposal to phase-out Russian energy faster would not impact Russia or force it to alter its position.
Trump wants Europe to take a stronger role in ending Russia's war against Ukraine. He demands that it shoulder the bulk of the costs of bolstering Ukraine's military, and to do more to deny Moscow the revenues from energy sales which fund its war economy.
The proposal could force EU countries to purchase LNG (Liquefied natural gas) from the United States in order to make up for any shortages. This would increase their energy dependence on the U.S. at a time when Washington uses trade tariffs as an instrument of policy.
After Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke to Trump in this week, one European official stated that advancing the Russian LNG ban became a priority.
The EU planned to phase out its Russian energy purchases via other legal texts on Jan. 1, 2028, but Trump has repeatedly asked the bloc to stop them faster before he takes any further action to pressurize Moscow.
Eurostat reports that the share of Russian LNG imported by the EU decreased from 22% to 14% during the second quarter 2025. Spain, Belgium and France are the top importers of Russian LNG. Gas piped through TurkStream is sent to Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.
Totalenergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne stated last week that Russian Gas was required until the end of 2027, "then it can be sourced from other countries without impacting on the price". Reporting by Lili Bayer and John Irish, Writing by Makini Brrice and Richard Lough, Editing by Kirsty Donovan and Frances Kerry
(source: Reuters)
