The European energy ministers agreed in Luxembourg to end imports of Russian gas and LNG by January 1, 2028 at the latest. With this, the Union aims to decouple its energy supply from Moscow and reduce the risks of political dependence.
The plan stipulates that from January 1, 2026 (in 9 weeks!) no new contracts may be concluded for Russian gas deliveries. Short-term contracts may still run until June 2026, while long-term contracts must expire by early 2028 at the latest.
The measure is legally established as a trade and import regulation, not as a sanction. Therefore, unanimity was not required, only a qualified majority. This means Hungary and Slovakia could not block the decision despite their opposition.
Hungary and Slovakia pointed to risks for energy security and economic damage. Both countries are heavily dependent on Russian energy. The Hungarian government stated that supply is endangered, partly due to the lack of direct access to seaports.
The Czech Republic, which itself was heavily reliant on Russian gas for years, expressed willingness to help Slovakia with alternative supply. Minister of Trade and Industry Lukáš Vlček said Prague stands ready to supply gas if Bratislava formally requests it.
According to Vlček, there are sufficient technical options to deliver gas via western routes. He emphasized that Slovakia and Hungary, like the Czech Republic, have had time to adapt their infrastructure and develop other supply sources.
Belgium played a key role in reaching a compromise. At Belgium's insistence, a section which would have prohibited LNG terminals from providing services to Russian companies was removed. Brussels feared legal risks at the European Court of Justice. This was important for Belgium because the gas company Fluxys still has long-term contracts for Russian LNG deliveries through Zeebrugge.
Although the agreement has been approved by the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament still has to approve the text. It is expected that MEPs will soon adopt the proposal, thereby making the complete EU ban on Russian gas imports final.