EU lawmakers and member states have reached a landmark agreement to completely phase out imports of Russian natural gas by autumn 2027, marking a decisive step in Europe’s efforts to end its energy dependence on Moscow.
In a statement, the European Council confirmed that negotiators from the Council presidency and the European Parliament had secured a provisional deal on the new regulation.
The measure is designed to eliminate Russian gas from the EU market in response to what officials describe as Russia’s “weaponisation” of energy supplies—actions that have significantly disrupted Europe’s energy landscape.
Under the agreement, long-term contracts for Russian pipeline gas will be banned no later than November 1, 2027, while long-term LNG (liquefied natural gas) contracts will end from January 1, 2027. Short-term contracts will be phased out earlier, with bans on Russian LNG taking effect from April 25, 2026, and on pipeline gas from June 17, 2026.
The deal represents a compromise between EU institutions, with Parliament pushing for a faster cutoff. The timeline will now move forward for final approval by both the European Parliament and EU member states.
