The European Commission proposes to stop imports of Russian gas by 2027 to reduce funding for the war in Ukraine, despite the opposition of Slovakia and Hungary.

The European Commission has proposed a total ban on imports of Russian natural gas until the end of 2027, as part of efforts to reduce dependence on Russian hydrocarbons and to cut off funding sources for the war in Ukraine. Although the EU has managed to significantly reduce imports of Russian oil, natural gas remains a problem, with Russia accounting for 19% of the Union's total gas imports in 2024, compared to 45% in 2021.

Slovakia and Hungary, landlocked countries dependent on Russian gas, opposed this measure, but they were in the minority. The European Parliament has advanced the proposal to ban all imports of Russian gas, including LNG, starting from January 1, 2026, with some exceptions. This measure is part of a new package of sanctions against Russia.