EU negotiator hopes for Russian gas import ban by year’s end

European Union energy ministers on Monday backed a proposal to ban imports of gas from Russia, boosting the bloc’s efforts to further cut Russian revenues from energy exports and raising hopes for a conclusion of talks.

“An energy independent Europe is a stronger and more secure Europe,” said Danish Energy Minister Lars Aagaard who chaired the talks.

“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.

The agreement on a common position on the import stop was needed before the bill can be finalized with the European Parliament.

EU lawmakers already backed the proposal in a vote last week, which allows them to start negotiations with capitals.

Aagaard, who will be one of the lead negotiators, said it’s his “clear ambition” to conclude the negotiations before the end of the year.

Under the proposal, imports of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia would be permanently banned from 2028 at the latest.

The ban to be negotiated with the European Parliament will be adopted by majority vote, meaning countries like Hungary and Slovakia, which import pipeline gas from Russia, can be outvoted.

It was crucial that the initiative “has secured an overwhelming support from Europe’s energy ministers,” Aagaard said on Monday.

Parallel efforts are underway for an earlier ban of LNG imports as part of the EU’s upcoming sanctions package on Russia.

Last year Moscow still accounted for around a fifth of all gas imports to the EU with a growing share of LNG, according to EU figures. In the first half of 2025 the bloc imported LNG from Russia worth almost €4.5 billion ($5.3 billion).

Sanctions can be adopted as soon as all 27 EU members agree to the measures without the involvement of the European Parliament, making the legislative process quicker.

Punitive sanctions on Russia are however temporary and have to be lifted once the war in Ukraine is over and the EU no longer sees a reason to penalize Moscow.

An agreement between EU countries and the European Parliament on a ban of pipeline and LNG gas aims to put a permanent end to Russian fuel imports.