EU countries agree to ban all Russian gas imports by end of 2027: What's the strategy?

European Union countries agreed on Monday to ban all gas supplies from Russia by the end of 2027, a move aimed at completely ending the bloc’s dependence on Moscow’s gas supplies despite its war with Ukraine. EU energy ministers met in Luxembourg and agreed on the joint position by endorsing a plan by the European Commission to phase out both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia. However, this decision is subject to the approval of the EU Parliament. The plan is part of the EU’s broader goal of phasing out Russian energy supplies as a whole. Lars Aagaard, energy minister of Denmark, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, called the move a “crucial” step in making Europe independent in terms of energy. “Although we have worked hard and pushed in recent years to get Russian gas and oil from Europe, we are not there yet,” Aagaard said. What is the EU’s plan to phase out Russian gas? Meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, EU energy ministers agreed to ban Russian supplies under existing short-term contracts by mid-June. Hungary and Slovakia, which are landlocked countries, will be exempt from this. After 18 months of the implementation of the initial phase, EU countries will start to ban long-term contracts with Russian gas. Negotiations with the European Parliament, which is keen on a faster exit from Russian gas and a freeze on oil imports from the beginning of next year, can now begin. The aim is to reach a final agreement before the end of the year. Hungary and Slovakia did not support the ban. EU strategy to ban Russian energy The European Union pursued a two-pronged strategy to end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels after President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. The ban, known as RepowerEU, is part of the strategy. Along with this, the European Commission has proposed that Russian LNG be banned by the end of the year. Leaders are likely to discuss the proposal in Brussels later this week. But sanctions need unanimous approval from the EU’s 27 nations, which has sometimes been difficult to achieve. Instead, trade restrictions like those approved Monday require the support of a weighted majority of 15 countries. All but Hungary and Slovakia, which are diplomatically closer to the Kremlin and still import Russian gas via pipeline, supported the latest move, according to diplomats. The EU is under pressure from the United States to step up its strategy to cut energy ties with Russia as President Donald Trump wants the bloc to buy more US oil. The EU receives about 15 percent of its LNG supplies from Moscow, making Russia the second largest supplier of the fuel to Europe after the US. (With agency input)