European Union energy ministers have approved a plan to end all Russian gas imports by 2028, introducing a phased ban on new and existing contracts and stricter checks to prevent Kremlin-linked volumes from entering the bloc through loopholes.

In a press release, the European Council announced its new policy, which is a central element of the REPowerEU strategy and establishes a legal prohibition on both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia while allowing a limited transition for legacy agreements. New import contracts will be banned from January 1 2026, short-term deals signed before June 17 2025 may run until June 17 2026, and long-term contracts must end by January 1 2028. The text is not yet law, as EU governments must now negotiate a final regulation with the European Parliament.

To ensure compliance, the plan introduces a prior authorisation system at the border. For Russian gas, or consignments still covered by the transition, documentation must be submitted at least one month before entry. For non-Russian gas, proof of origin must be provided five days before entry. Mixed LNG cargoes will require documentation showing the Russian and non-Russian shares, with only the latter permitted into the EU. Additional monitoring measures aim to prevent Russian gas from entering under “transit” procedures.

The initiative seeks to consolidate the geopolitical shift following Moscow’s use of energy supplies as leverage while managing the bloc’s energy security and internal political sensitivities. Russian gas still accounts for an estimated 13% of EU imports, worth more than EUR15bn ($17.5bn), a sharp decline from roughly half of the market before the war in Ukraine.

Member states will be required to submit national diversification plans unless they can demonstrate that they receive no direct or indirect Russian gas. Those still importing Russian oil must also present plans to end those flows by 2028. The Council text clarifies a suspension clause for emergencies, reduces administrative requirements for non-Russian cargoes, and directs the European Commission to produce, within five days of the regulation’s entry into force, a list of trusted origin countries exempt from prior authorisation.

The measure passed with qualified-majority support, including flexibilities for landlocked countries. Negotiations with the European Parliament are next, while a separate sanctions package proposing to advance an EU-wide LNG ban to 2027 remains under discussion.