Brussels [Belgium], October 22 (HBTV): European Union member states have agreed to ban all Russian energy imports from January 1, 2028, after approving a European Commission proposal to that effect.
Energy ministers from nearly all EU countries voted in favour of the draft regulation, covering both pipeline oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), during a meeting in Luxembourg on October 20.
The regulation forms a core part of the EU’s REPowerEU roadmap aimed at ending dependence on Russian energy. It follows what the European Council described as ‘Russia’s weaponisation of gas supplies’ and ‘repeated disruptions of gas supplies to the EU with significant effects on the European energy market’.
According to the Council, imports of Russian gas will be prohibited from January 2026, while a transition period will be maintained for existing short-term contracts until June 2026. Long-term contracts may continue until January 1, 2028.
Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s Energy Minister and holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, described the move as a ‘crucial step’ towards European energy independence.
‘Although we have worked hard and pushed to get Russian gas and oil out of Europe in recent years, we are not there yet,’ Aagaard said. ‘Therefore, it is crucial that the Danish Presidency has secured overwhelming support from Europe’s energy ministers for the legislation that will definitively ban Russian gas from coming into the EU.’
Negotiations will now begin with the European Parliament to finalise the text of the regulation.
Following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, EU leaders agreed in the Versailles Declaration of March 2022 to phase out dependency on Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible. As a result, imports of gas and oil from Russia have fallen sharply in recent years. While oil imports dropped below 3 per cent in 2025, Russian gas still accounts for an estimated 13 per cent of EU imports this year, leaving the bloc vulnerable in terms of trade and energy security.
To address this vulnerability, the European Commission adopted the REPowerEU roadmap in May 2025, outlining a phased plan to eliminate remaining Russian energy imports and strengthen energy independence. In June 2025, the Commission proposed a gradual phase-out of the remaining pipeline gas and LNG, with a complete ban by January 1, 2028.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on October 20 that ‘Russia only negotiates when put under pressure’ and confirmed that the EU is working towards adopting its 19th sanctions package.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Kallas said, ‘We see President Trump’s efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. Of course, all these efforts are welcome, but we don’t see Russia really wanting peace. Russia only understands strength and only negotiates when it is really put to negotiate. So right now we don’t see it yet.’
‘Ukraine has been ready for an unconditional ceasefire already since February, but Russia has no genuine interest in peace. We all support President Trump’s efforts to end the war, but Putin will only negotiate seriously if he thinks he is losing,’ Kallas added.
When asked whether Ukraine should make territorial concessions as part of a peace deal, Kallas replied, ‘Everybody says territorial integrity is an important value that we stand for. And I think we have to keep to that, because if we just give away the territories, then this gives a message to everybody that you can just use force against your neighbours and get what you want. I think this is very dangerous. That is why we have international law in place that nobody does that.’
Kallas also said that EU ministers were discussing measures to counter Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, a network of vessels allegedly helping Moscow circumvent Western oil export restrictions. ‘We are discussing with the member states how to coordinate our actions regarding the shadow fleet better. We need to be more creative because they are also creative in bypassing these measures,’ she said.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had criticised NATO countries at the UN General Assembly for continuing to import Russian energy, accusing them of ‘funding a war against themselves’.
Responding to a question about Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kallas said, ‘I think President Trump is sincere in trying to end this war. So, that is very clear. We also want to end this war. Ukrainians definitely want to end this war. Who does not want to end this war is Russia. We should not be distracted. I think our course here is very, very clear. Our point is that we have to make also Russia to want peace, and that is why we are working also trying to convince our allies all across the world that nothing can come out of these meetings if Ukraine or Europe is not part of it.’
(ANI)