Trump Urges The European Union To Ban Russian LNG Imports

JAKARTA - The European Union plans to ban imports of Russian LNG into the bloc a year earlier than planned as part of its 19th sanction package against Moscow. This change follows pressure from US President Donald Trump.

"The income from fossil fuels supports Russia's war economy. We want to cut this revenue," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, announcing the proposal, requiring unanimous approval from European Union governments.

"So we are banning Russia's LNG imports to the European market. It's time to close the tap," said von der Leyen.

The European Union's sanctions proposal sparked intensive discussions among 27 member states to reach an agreement.

Pro-Russian governments in Hungary and Slovakia postponed previous packages before compromise was finally reached.

Kaja Kallas, Head of Foreign Policy of the European Union, said in X the new proposal was aimed at accelerating the elimination of Russian liquefied natural gas (so that it was completed) on January 1, 2027".

The European Union had previously planned a gradual elimination on January 1, 2028, but Trump has repeatedly urged the bloc to end Russia's energy purchases more quickly before he does anything to pressure Moscow.

In addition to LNG, or liquefied natural gas, the proposed sanctions will also target more Russian shadow tanker fleets and cryptocurrencies.

Von der Leyen and Kallas did not provide complete details on the new package, but officials said the package would also target Russian and Central Asian banks, Chinese oil refineries, and special economic zones, customs loopholes Moscow uses to import dual necessities for its military.

"We are now pursuing those who waged the Russian war, which bought oil in violation of sanctions," said von der Leyen.

"We are targeting oil refineries, oil traders, petrochemical companies in third countries including China," he continued.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday any EU proposal to stop Russia's energy more quickly would not affect Russia and would not force it to change its position.

Trump urged Europe to play a stronger role in helping end Russia's war in Ukraine, demanding it bear a greater burden in its cost of supporting the Ukrainian military and doing more to eliminate Moscow's energy income from financing its war economy.

The proposal risks forcing EU countries to cover LNG's supply shortage through purchases from the United States, thereby increasing their energy dependence on the US in the era when Washington used trade rates as a policy tool.

"Trump's pressure on Europe to move faster in banning Russia's energy imports seems successful," said Simone Tagliapietra, a senior researcher at the Bruegel research institute.

"Anticipating the ban on imports of LNG Russia until January 2027 means Europe now needs to immediately prepare alternatives - and US supplies are of course at the top," he added.

A European official said Russia's proposed ban on LNG was a "priority" after von der Leyen spoke with Trump this week.

Russia's share in European Union LNG imports decreased to 14% in the second quarter of 2025 from 22% in the first quarter of 2021, according to Eurostat.

Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France import Russia's LNG. Gas distributed through Turk Stream is distributed to Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.