European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, and European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen address a media conference regarding the the provisional agreement on the phasing out of Russian fossil fuels under REPowerEU, at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, December 3, 2025. HARRY NAKOS / AP
European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal on Wednesday, December 3, to ban all imports of Russian gas by autumn 2027, as the bloc seeks to choke off key funds feeding Moscow's war chest. "This is the dawn of a new era, the era of Europe's full energy independence from Russia," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told reporters following the overnight deal. "We've made it: Europe is turning off the tap on Russian gas, forever," EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen wrote on X. "We've chosen energy security and independence for Europe. No more blackmail. No more market manipulation by Putin. We stand strong with Ukraine."
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But the Kremlin hit back, saying the move would "accelerate" a decline of the EU's economy as it would force the bloc to resort to more expensive alternatives. Under the deal, long-term pipeline contracts – considered the most sensitive because they can run for decades – will be banned from September 30, 2027, provided storage levels are sufficient, and no later than November 1, 2027.
