EU Finalizes Historic Deal to Ban All Russian Gas Imports by 2027: A Major Step Toward Energy Independence

European Union lawmakers and member states have successfully negotiated a deal on Wednesday to completely halt all Russian gas imports by autumn 2027, as part of the bloc's strategy to cut off crucial funding sources for Moscow's military operations.

"This is the dawn of a new era, the era of Europe's full energy independence from Russia," declared EU chief Ursula von der Leyen while addressing reporters after the overnight agreement was reached.

The accord, aimed at ending a dependency that has proven difficult to break even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, represents a compromise between EU capitals and the European Parliament, which had advocated for an earlier implementation of the ban.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen expressed enthusiasm on social platform X, stating: "We've made it: Europe is turning off the tap on Russian gas, forever. We've chosen energy security and independence for Europe. No more blackmail. No more market manipulation by Putin. We stand strong with Ukraine."

The Kremlin responded critically to the announcement, suggesting that this move would "accelerate" the EU's economic decline by forcing the bloc to rely on more expensive alternative energy sources.

According to the terms of the agreement, long-term pipeline contracts, which are considered particularly sensitive due to their potential decades-long duration, will be prohibited from September 30, 2027, contingent on sufficient storage levels, and no later than November 1, 2027.

For liquefied natural gas (LNG), long-term contracts will be banned starting January 1, 2027, aligning with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's call for strengthened sanctions against Moscow.

Short-term contracts will be phased out even earlier: from April 25, 2026 for LNG and June 17, 2026 for pipeline gas.

A European Council statement explained that the initiative aims "to end dependency on Russian energy following Russia's weaponisation of gas supplies with significant effects on the European energy market."

This timeline still requires final approval from both the European Parliament and member states.

European companies will be able to invoke "force majeure" as legal justification for breaking existing contracts, citing the EU import ban.

The overnight agreement also instructs the Commission to develop a plan in the coming months to terminate Russian oil imports to Hungary and Slovakia by the end of 2027.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, widely regarded as the EU leader with the closest ties to the Kremlin, defied Brussels last month by pledging to continue importing Russian hydrocarbons during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

While the EU moved to reduce its dependence on Russian oil in 2022, it granted exemptions to these two landlocked countries.

Nearly four years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the bloc is attempting to finally eliminate a profitable energy revenue stream for Moscow.

The proportion of Russian gas in EU imports has decreased significantly from 45 percent in 2021 to 19 percent in 2024. However, while Europe has drastically reduced pipeline deliveries, it has partially shifted to LNG, which is transported by sea, unloaded at ports, and reintroduced into the network.

Behind the United States (45 percent), Russia remains a significant supplier, accounting for 20 percent of EU LNG imports in 2024—approximately 20 billion cubic meters out of roughly 100 billion.

Russian LNG imports into the EU were still projected to amount to 15 billion euros this year.