EU Countries Approve Binding Ban on Russian Gas Imports

European Union member states have given final approval to a landmark law banning imports of Russian gas, making legally binding the bloc’s pledge to sever energy ties with Moscow. The decision marks a major geopolitical and economic shift, nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Final approval despite internal opposition

Energy ministers from EU countries approved the legislation at a meeting in Brussels, clearing the final procedural hurdle for the ban to enter into law. While most member states backed the move, Hungary and Slovakia voted against it. Hungary has indicated it will challenge the decision at the European Court of Justice, arguing that the ban undermines its national energy security.

Timelines for LNG and pipeline gas phase-out

Under the approved framework, the European Union will stop importing Russian liquefied natural gas by the end of 2026. Imports of Russian pipeline gas will be banned by September 30, 2027. The law allows flexibility to extend the deadline to November 1, 2027, if a member state faces difficulties filling gas storage facilities with alternative supplies ahead of the winter heating season.

Reducing dependence on a former top supplier

Before the Ukraine war, Russia supplied over 40 per cent of the EU’s gas needs. That share fell sharply after sanctions and diversification efforts, dropping to around 13 per cent in 2025, according to EU data. The new law is designed to lock in this reduction and prevent any future return to large-scale reliance on Russian energy, even if market conditions change.

Important Facts for Exams

• The EU ban covers both liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas.
• Russian gas imports will end fully by late 2027.
• Hungary and Slovakia opposed the ban due to energy dependence.
• Russia supplied over 40% of EU gas before the 2022 Ukraine war.

Strategic and geopolitical implications

The decision reinforces the EU’s long-term strategy to decouple from Russian energy amid the Ukraine conflict. By making the ban legally binding, the bloc signals unity and resolve, while accelerating investment in alternative suppliers, renewables, and energy security infrastructure. The move also reshapes global gas markets, with lasting implications for Europe’s energy mix and its geopolitical posture.