The European Union on Friday unveiled a new plan to speed up the phase-out of Russian gas, proposing to stop purchases of liquefied natural gas from Moscow by January 2027.
The step, included in the latest round of sanctions, comes one year ahead of the bloc’s earlier schedule.
The European Commission explained that the decision is part of efforts to cut off revenues that fuel Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ending LNG imports is seen as a way to weaken Moscow’s ability to sustain its economy while the conflict continues.
The move follows growing pressure from the United States, where President Donald Trump has been urging Europe to stop buying Russian energy supplies. The EU, in return, is seeking to build stronger support from Washington in taking a firmer stance against Russia and its allies.
The new proposal marks the 19th package of sanctions against Moscow since the war began in 2022. While most Russian oil imports have already been blocked, only Hungary and Slovakia continue to buy, both maintaining close ties with Moscow and Trump.
The Commission stressed that cutting gas imports is another step in reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and limiting the funds that Moscow draws from global fossil fuel sales.