The European Union moved to permanently cut off Russian oil and gas. This was done under a provisional political agreement reached recently by the European Parliament and the Council.

The historic deal marks a decisive step toward ending Europe’s reliance on a supplier that has repeatedly destabilized energy markets, used energy as a weapon, and harmed the European economy.

As outlined in the REPowerEU Roadmap, the full phaseout of Russian fossil fuels is essential to securing Europe’s energy independence, competitiveness, resilience, and market stability.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the decision as a turning point: “Today, we enter the era of Europe's full energy independence from Russia. REPowerEU has delivered. It shielded us from the worst energy crisis in decades, and it helped us to transition from Russian fossil fuels at record speed. Today, we are stopping these imports permanently. By depleting Putin's war chest, we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and set our sights on new energy partnerships and opportunities for the sector.”

Under the agreement, Russian gas imports will be phased out gradually but permanently. LNG imports will end by 31 December 2026, pipeline gas by 30 September 2027, with a possible extension to 31 October 2027 if storage targets are not met.

Short-term contracts signed before 17 June 2025 will be banned starting 25 April 2026 for LNG and 17 June 2026 for pipeline gas.

Long-term LNG contracts signed before 17 June 2025 will be banned from 1 January 2027, while long-term pipeline contracts can continue only until 30 September 2027, or 1 November 2027 if storage levels are insufficient.

Amendments to existing contracts will only be allowed for limited operational purposes, and no increases in volumes or prices are permitted. By November 2027, the EU will have completely ended Russian gas imports.

To ensure compliance, the deal includes strict safeguards against circumvention, strengthened monitoring, and customs controls. Importers of Russian gas during the transition period must submit detailed information to confirm volumes are limited to existing contracts. Non-Russian gas importers must report the country of production, with exemptions for certain suppliers under sanctions or lacking infrastructure.

EU member states must submit national diversification plans by 1 March 2026, outlining how they will diversify gas and oil supplies. The Commission will assess these plans within three months and provide recommendations, supporting countries throughout the process.

The regulation establishes monitoring mechanisms to prevent circumvention, with EU authorities cooperating closely alongside ACER, EPPO, and OLAF. Measures will be carefully timed to stabilize markets, minimize price impacts, and provide legal certainty.

The EU also remains committed to ending all Russian oil imports by the end of 2027, in line with the Versailles Declaration, with a legislative proposal expected early next year.