EU Commission to ban Russian gas from 2028

Despite objections from Hungary and Slovakia, an EU ban on Russian gas is likely to be implemented by 2028. The legislation, aimed at achieving EU independence from Russian gas, was presented by EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. The proposed ban intends to stop payments to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who has been waging war in Ukraine for over three years. EU countries are still purchasing Russian gas for around two billion euros monthly. The plan includes ceasing the use of Russian gas from short contracts by January 2026 and ending long contracts by the end of 2027. These measures aim to ensure no energy shortages for any EU country while transitioning to alternative energy sources. The ban can be approved by a qualified majority, even if not all countries support it.