Brussels

The European Union has formally announced plans to eliminate all Russian gas and oil from its energy mix, marking what it called the beginning of a “new era” of full energy independence from Moscow. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that imports of Russian gas will cease by autumn 2027.

“This is the dawn of a new era — Europe’s complete energy independence from Russia,” von der Leyen stated after EU institutions reached an overnight agreement.

Under the proposal, new long-term contracts for Russian pipeline gas will be prohibited by September 30, 2027, and LNG supply agreements will be barred from January 1, 2027. A separate strategy is also being prepared to phase out Russian oil imports completely by the end of 2027.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen celebrated the breakthrough on X, writing, “We’ve made it: Europe is turning off the tap on Russian gas, forever. We’ve chosen energy security and independence for Europe.”

Europe will stop importing Russian gas before end 2027. @Europarl_EN & @EUCouncil agreed on our proposed import ban.

We are sending a clear message to Russia: Europe will never again let its energy supply be used as a weapon.

Europe is now on the pathway for independence.

— Dan Jørgensen (@DanJoergensen) December 3, 2025

The agreement forms a key pillar of the REPowerEU plan, introduced in 2022 to sharply reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels following the invasion of Ukraine.

Details of the deal specify:

• Long-term Russian pipeline gas contracts to end by Sept 30, 2027, provided storage levels are adequate, and at the latest by Nov 1, 2027
• Long-term LNG contracts to conclude from Jan 1, 2027
• Short-term LNG supplies to stop from April 25, 2026
• Short-term pipeline gas deals to end from June 17, 2026

A European Council statement said the move seeks to break the EU’s reliance on Russian energy after Moscow “weaponised gas supplies,” causing disruptions and market shocks across Europe.

The mechanism also permits European companies to invoke force majeure to legally exit existing agreements. In addition, the European Commission has been asked to devise a plan for Hungary and Slovakia — countries with limited energy alternatives due to their landlocked geography — to withdraw from Russian oil supplies by 2027.

While the EU slashed Russian oil imports in 2022, both Hungary and Slovakia were temporarily exempted. The shift now comes nearly four years after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, as the bloc works to cut a major stream of revenue flowing to the Kremlin.

Russian gas once represented 45% of EU imports in 2021, but its share fell to 19% in 2024. Although pipeline flows have plunged, Russian LNG continues to enter Europe by sea. In 2024, the United States supplied around 45% of the EU’s LNG, while Russia supplied 20% — roughly 20 billion cubic meters. Russian LNG imports to Europe are still projected to be worth €15 billion this year.

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The deal now awaits final ratification by the European Parliament and member states.