Brussels may talk big about cutting ties with Russia, but when it comes down to action, it’s a different story. Despite previous chatter, the European Union has dropped the idea of banning Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports—yet again.
Why? Well, countries like France, Spain, and Belgium, which together account for nearly 90% of the EU’s LNG imports, have a lot to say about the matter.
Instead of a ban, the European Commission is now pushing for a “vague roadmap” aimed at weaning the bloc off Russian energy by 2027. However, given the EU’s ongoing Green Deal ambitions, this will be tough to achieve without tapping into Europe’s own abundant energy resources—resources that remain largely untapped.
The ban had been part of the EU’s 17th sanctions package, which is expected to be presented by June. But the idea of an LNG embargo on Russia first surfaced back in May of last year and hasn’t gotten much further since. In fact, European nations have actually ramped up their imports of Russian LNG, with shipments rising by 18% in 2024.
One Brussels insider revealed that the EU might look to buy more American gas if it leads to President Trump lifting tariffs on the bloc. However, that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere either. The EU’s reluctance to immediately ban Russian imports is based on a fear: doing so might weaken their leverage in negotiations with the U.S., effectively putting the bloc in a vulnerable position.
The EU’s strategy to reduce its reliance on Russian energy is expected to take shape by early May, though no one is holding their breath for any bold moves just yet.
