The European Union has agreed on a timeline to end all imports of Russian natural gas by autumn 2027, a move European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described as the start of “a new era” for the bloc’s energy independence.
Speaking after negotiators struck an overnight agreement, von der Leyen said the decision represents a turning point after years of reliance on Russian fossil fuels. “This is the dawn of a new era, the era of Europe’s full energy independence from Russia,” she told reporters.
The deal represents a compromise between EU member states and the European Parliament, which had pushed for a faster phase-out. Still, officials hailed the agreement as a decisive step following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen welcomed the accord in a statement posted on X, writing: “We’ve made it: Europe is turning off the tap on Russian gas, forever. We’ve chosen energy security and independence. No more blackmail or market manipulation by Putin.”
Under the terms of the agreement, long-term pipeline gas contracts with Russia will end no later than 1 November 2027, with an earlier cutoff date of 30 September possible if storage conditions allow. Long-term contracts for liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be banned from 1 January 2027. The plan also establishes shorter deadlines for ending short-term contracts: 25 April 2026 for LNG and 17 June 2026 for pipeline deliveries.
A statement from the European Council said the measures aim “to end dependency on Russian energy following Russia’s weaponisation of gas supplies,” which triggered severe disruption and soaring prices across the EU after the invasion of Ukraine.
Companies will be permitted to invoke force majeure to legally exit existing contracts once the ban takes effect. The agreement also instructs the European Commission to prepare a plan to end Russian oil imports to Hungary and Slovakia by the end of 2027. Both countries were granted exemptions when the EU restricted Russian oil shipments in 2022 due to their geographical dependence on pipeline routes.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has maintained close ties with the Kremlin, has recently said he intends to continue importing Russian energy, creating political friction within the bloc.
The EU has already significantly reduced its reliance on Russian fuel. Russian gas made up 45% of the bloc’s imports in 2021 but fell to 19% in 2024. While pipeline deliveries have dropped sharply, LNG imports from Russia have persisted. In 2024, Russia accounted for 20% of the EU’s LNG purchases—second only to the United States—and shipments were expected to total about €15 billion.
The agreement must still receive final approval from the European Parliament and EU member states, but officials say the political consensus marks a decisive shift in the bloc’s long-term energy strategy.
