Reuters. EU countries on Thursday (October 23) formally adopted a 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine that includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.
The 27 member states had already approved the package on Wednesday (October 22) evening after Slovakia dropped its block.
The LNG ban will take effect in two stages: short-term contracts will end after six months and long-term contracts from January 1, 2027. The full ban comes a year earlier than the Commission's roadmap to end the bloc's reliance on Russian fossil fuels.
Measures in the package also include a new mechanism to limit the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU, the statement said.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the ban on LNG imports is an important step towards a complete phasing out of Russian energy in the EU.
