EU Ambassadors Approve Plan To Turn Away From Russian Gas

• 10.12.2025, 13:01

One of the last legal hurdles has been cleared.

European Union ambassadors on Wednesday approved the bloc's plan to phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, a spokesman for Denmark, the current EU presidency, Reuters reported.

The approval of the plan removes one of the last legal hurdles before the final decision to reject Russian gas, the agency said.

The European Parliament will vote next week and EU ministers are expected to formally approve the ban in early 2026, the story said. Officials expect that agreements will be reached by a majority vote, despite opposition from Hungary and Slovakia, the agency said.

The plan envisages that the phase-out of gas from Russia will be phased: the ban will be introduced from January 1, 2026, with a transition period for existing contracts. In particular, short-term contracts concluded before June 17, 2025 may be valid until June 17, 2026, and long-term contracts - until January 1, 2028.