A draft regulation approved by European Union energy ministers would phase out Russian import contracts by January 2028.<\/p>\n
Published On 20 Oct 202520 Oct 2025<\/p>\n
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European Union states have agreed to halt Russian oil and gas imports by 2028, severing an energy link they fear helps fuel Moscow\u2019s war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Almost all EU energy ministers voted in favour of the draft regulation, which applies to both pipeline oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), during a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.<\/p>\n
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It would require EU members to phase out new Russian gas import contracts from January 2026, existing short-term contracts from June 2026 and long-term contracts in January 2028.<\/p>\n
The proposal must now be approved by the European Parliament, where it is expected to pass.<\/p>\n
The plan is part of a broader EU strategy to curb Russian energy dependence amid the war in Ukraine \u2013 and follows persistent calls by United States President Donald Trump<\/a> for European states to stop \u201cfunding the war against themselves\u201d.<\/p>\n \u2018Not there yet\u2019<\/p>\n Lars Aagaard, Denmark\u2019s energy minister, called the proposal a \u201ccrucial\u201d step to make Europe energy independent.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough we have worked hard and pushed to get Russian gas and oil out of Europe in recent years, we are not there yet,\u201d Aagaard said. His country currently holds the EU\u2019s rotating presidency.<\/p>\n The EU has already brought down Russian oil imports to just 3 percent of its overall share, but Russian gas still makes up 13 percent of gas imports, accounting for more than 15 billion euros ($17.5bn) annually, according to the European Council.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, these purchases make up a relatively small portion of Russia\u2019s overall fossil fuel exports, which mostly go to China, India and Turkiye, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.<\/p>\n