The ban doesn't include Russian oil, which the EU lawmakers say they're working on
The European Union will ban Russian gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from entering the bloc by the end of 2026 and mid-2027 but with exceptions for Hungary and Slovakia, which will be allowed to tap Moscow’s gas in case of supply disruption, EU co-legislators agreed on Tuesday evening.
EU data reveals that the bloc's dependence on Moscow for gas fell from 45% before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine to 13% in the first half of 2025. Yet despite the drastic cut, Russian gas imports still totalled €10 billion. Belgium, France, and Spain were among the member states still receiving Russian LNG via transhipments.
The Parliament was opposed to exemptions for landlocked countries, but it ultimately conceded them to the Council.
Still, Hungary and Slovakia are planning to challenge the law once it's adopted.
The prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, have both taken a more sympathetic approach toward the Kremlin than other EU leaders.
The ban doesn't include Russian oil, which the EU lawmakers say they're working on