Even if Russia ends the war and signs a peace agreement, it will not regain access to the EU energy market. The European Commission’s new plan formalises the rejection of Russian gas and oil in favour of energy security, price stability, and climate objectives. Brussels points out that Russia had been using energy as a tool of pressure long before 2022—and can no longer be considered a reliable partner. Despite opposition from Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna, the initiative is likely to be adopted.
The European Commission has declared that there will be no return to importing Russian gas. The newly unveiled plan envisions a complete phase-out of fossil fuel imports from Russia by 2028.
As Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen emphasised, the proposed ban on Russian gas supplies will remain in effect regardless of how the situation in Ukraine develops—even in the event of a peace settlement.
Brussels recalled a series of supply disruptions orchestrated by Moscow in previous years: cuts in 2006, 2009, and 2014, as well as a deliberate restriction of volumes in 2021, just months before the full-scale invasion. These actions were a catalyst for a major energy crisis and triggered a surge in inflation across Europe.
Under the new proposal, European companies would be prohibited from importing Russian gas and from providing services at EU liquefied natural gas terminals to Russian clients. All contracts signed after the measure comes into force must be terminated by 1 January 2026. For agreements signed earlier, the deadline is set for 1 January 2028.
The initiative has already drawn criticism from Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. However, these countries appear unlikely to muster sufficient support to block its adoption at the EU level.
Dan Jørgensen stressed that the move to end reliance on Russian energy is not merely a response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "We are introducing this ban because Russia used energy as a weapon against us, blackmailing EU countries. That makes it an untrustworthy partner," he said. "That is why, regardless of whether peace comes—which we of course hope for—the ban will remain in place."
"Russia used energy as a weapon against us," said Dan Jørgensen, speaking in Strasbourg. June 17, 2025.
European importers will be required to provide customs authorities with detailed information on the origin of gas—aimed at preventing attempts to rebrand Russian fuel under another flag.
In 2021, Russia accounted for 45% of the EU’s gas imports; by 2025, that figure is expected to fall to 13%. However, despite a sharp drop in pipeline deliveries, European countries purchased record volumes of Russian liquefied natural gas in 2024—raising questions about the EU’s consistency in both its Ukraine policy and its climate commitments.
Share of Oil and Gas in Russia’s Federal Budget Revenues, %
The European Commission expressed confidence that companies withdrawing from long-term contracts will not face legal consequences. According to Dan Jørgensen, this constitutes a force majeure: "It is not the companies breaking the contracts, but external circumstances—the ban is beyond their control."
The EU plans to fully phase out imports of Russian oil by 2028. In 2021, it accounted for 27% of European oil imports; today, that figure stands at around 3%.
However, the new proposal does not revoke the exemption granted to Hungary and Slovakia. When the EU agreed on an oil embargo in March 2023, these two countries secured a concession allowing continued deliveries through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline. That exception was established under the EU’s sanctions regime and cannot be overridden by the new legislation, which is based on a separate legal framework.
Hungary and Slovakia have sharply criticised the EU’s plan to phase out fossil fuels. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó warned that the move could cause a fourfold increase in utility bills for Hungarian consumers. On Monday, he released a video making the claim—set to dramatic action-movie music. The European Commission, in turn, rejected suggestions that the measures would lead to price hikes.
Austria offered a more restrained critique: the Ministry of Energy told the Financial Times that the EU should consider resuming imports of Russian gas if a peace agreement is reached.
But Green Party MEP Lena Schilling, a former Fridays for Future activist, dismissed that stance as short-sighted and morally unacceptable. "Have we learned nothing from the bombed hospitals, abducted children, and a war of aggression in the very heart of Europe?" she asked.