EU delays ban on Russian LNG imports

According to a Reuters report citing unnamed EU officials, the European Union has postponed its plan to ban imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia due to objections from some member states and uncertainties regarding alternative sources.

The European Commission reportedly aims to prepare a new roadmap for a complete exit from Russian energy sources by 2027 instead.

The plan is expected to be announced in early May, but the details are still unclear.

Sources say that the Commission plans to present the 17th sanctions package against Russia by June, but progress is slow.

One source speaking to Reuters stated that the European Commission does not want to risk losing the possibility of purchasing LNG from Russia due to sanctions, as this would weaken its position in ongoing tariff negotiations with the US.

It is known that US President Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized that he wants the EU to buy more LNG from his country.

However, the report noted that both the European Commission and some EU member states are concerned about becoming dependent on the US, which is the EU’s third-largest gas supplier after Russia and Norway.

On the other hand, according to data published by the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel on April 16, the volume of LNG imports from the US to the EU surpassed Russia’s shipments in the first quarter of 2025.

Thus, the US has risen to become the second-largest exporter of this fuel type to Europe.

According to data published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) on February 18, LNG imports from Russia to EU countries increased by 18% year-on-year in 2024.

The report stated that Moscow earned at least 6.3 billion euros from these sales in the January-November period of that year.

According to analysts, France, Spain, and Belgium are the largest buyers of Russian LNG in Europe, accounting for 85% of the total fuel imports from the Russian Federation.

The LNG terminal in Dunkirk, France, alone accounted for 27% of the total LNG shipments from Russia to Europe last year.

The issue of a possible ban on LNG purchases from Russia was heavily debated during negotiations for the 16th EU sanctions package, which coincided with the third anniversary of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.

However, some experts warn that completely cutting off gas supplies from Russia to the EU could lead to a sharp increase in fuel prices in Europe, as a full alternative to Russian LNG has not yet been found.

Following the start of the war in Ukraine, the EU quickly abandoned Russian coal. The embargo on crude oil imports was implemented in December 2022, and the embargo on petroleum products in February 2023.

According to Bruegel’s report, natural gas shipments from Russia to European Union countries fell to their lowest level since the start of the war in Ukraine in the January-March period of 2025.