EU ambassadors agree to move forward with phasing out Russian energy imports by 2028

European Union ambassadors have reached a key agreement to advance the bloc’s plan to completely phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2028.

The decision was made during a closed-door meeting on October 8, according to several EU diplomats cited by Reuters.

It marks the first major political step toward approval of the law, which will now be sent to EU energy ministers for a final vote on October 20.

The diplomats said that nearly all EU member states back the proposal, which aims to cut off a vital source of revenue for the Kremlin as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues.

Despite resistance from Hungary and Slovakia — two countries that want to maintain close ties with Moscow — the law is expected to pass comfortably, according to the sources. Both nations will nevertheless be required under the proposal to establish national plans to end Russian oil imports by 2028.

If adopted, the legislation would mark a historic end to Europe’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels. The phase-out plan envisions halting imports under new gas contracts from January 2026, ending short-term contracts in June 2026, and terminating long-term agreements by January 2028.

This move would complete a transition already well underway: Russian gas now accounts for only about 12% of EU imports, as countries including Hungary, France and Belgium still import the critical resource. This marks a sharp decrease compared to 45% before Moscow’s war on Ukraine in 2022.

According to Reuters, some technical issues remain under negotiation ahead of the October vote, particularly concerning liquefied natural gas (LNG). One point of debate is whether LNG shipments entering the EU must be pre-authorised before delivery or verified by customs upon arrival to ensure they are not of Russian origin.

France and Italy have expressed support for the broader proposal but are urging clarity and enforceable measures on how the LNG checks will be implemented. Separately, the EU is also discussing an additional sanctions package that would ban imports of Russian LNG a year earlier, by January 2027.

Under EU rules, the law must win a “qualified majority” — approval from at least 55% of member states — before moving to final negotiations between governments and the European Parliament.

The EU’s renewed determination to sever ties with Russian energy comes shortly after US President Donald Trump signalled he would impose tougher sanctions on Russia, but only if NATO allies “agree, and start, to do the same thing.” In a September post on Truth Social, he criticised Europe’s continued purchases of Russian oil, calling current import levels “shocking.”

By Nazrin Sadigova