‘Time to turn off the tap’ as EU aims to bring forward Russian gas ban

Since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022, the EU has imposed import restrictions on Russian coal and oil but there have been no gas sanctions

The European Commission is aiming to bring forward a ban on EU imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia by one year to the beginning of 2027 as part of the bloc’s 19th package of sanctions on Moscow.

“Europe is increasing its pressure,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

“Russia’s war economy is sustained by the revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues,” she said.

“We are banning imports of Russian energy into European markets. It is time to turn off the tap.”