ministers backing a proposal to phase out all Russian oil and gas imports by 2028. The decision, however, reveals deep internal divisions and highlights the economic sacrifices Europe is willing to make in its political stance against Moscow.
The agreement, endorsed by EU energy ministers on October 20, 2025, establishes a legally binding, stepwise prohibition on imports of Russian natural gas, both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The timeline is designed to allow for a managed transition. By January 2026, a ban on new Russian gas import contracts will take effect. By June 2026, existing short term contracts must be terminated, and by January 2028, a full ban on all Russian gas imports begins, including long term contracts. The regulation also includes a prior authorisation regime for all gas imports, with stricter documentation required for Russian gas to prevent circumvention.
The EU's push for energy independence comes with significant economic concerns and has been met with firm opposition from within the bloc. The European Commission itself acknowledges that the transition has already contributed to higher energy prices for some member states.
The most vocal opposition came from Hungary and Slovakia, which voted against the proposal and criticized it as economically damaging and a threat to their energy security. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that the regulation would "kill" his country's safe energy supply. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico went further, labeling the phase-out "economic suicide" and the building of "some new Iron Curtain".
While the law passed with a qualified majority, meaning the opposition of Hungary and Slovakia could not block it, the conflict underscores the political cost of the EU's policy and the persistent lack of unanimity on how to deal with Russia.
The EU's decision accelerates a realignment of global energy flows that began after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While the bloc has drastically reduced its imports, Russian gas still accounted for an estimated 13% of EU gas imports in 2025, worth over €15 billion annually. The new rules aim to eliminate this revenue stream, which the EU says funds Russia's war effort.
However, Russia has successfully pivoted its exports to other markets. As noted in the search results, the majority of Russia's fossil fuel exports now go to China, India, and Türkiye, which helps mitigate the impact of the European phase-out. Furthermore, the EU is simultaneously negotiating a separate 19th sanctions package that would bring forward the ban on Russian LNG imports to January 2027, a year earlier than the general gas ban.