Kathmandu – The European Union has announced a historic decision to completely halt all fuel imports from Russia by January 1, 2028.
This move, which was finalized during an EU energy ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, is a decisive step towards reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy supplies.
Nearly all EU member states supported the proposal, which aims to make Europe more self-sufficient in energy. Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s energy minister and current president of the EU Council, emphasized that the decision was crucial for Europe’s energy future.
The new restrictions will apply to both oil imported via pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia. Importantly, Russian gas imports will be completely banned starting January 1, 2026, with a few short-term contracts being exempt until June 2026. Long-term contracts, however, will be phased out by 2028.
The decision comes in the wake of Russia’s use of energy supplies as a weapon during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, as well as repeated disruptions to the energy flow into Europe.
The EU sees this as part of its roadmap to reduce energy dependence on Russia, securing a more sustainable and independent energy future for the region.
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