European Union Confirms Intent to End Russian Gas Imports by End of 2027

Brussels, Oct 13 (KUNA) -- The European Commission confirmed on Tuesday that the European Union is proceeding with its efforts to end Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, emphasizing that the bloc continues to work on reducing its dependence on Russian energy sources. European Commission spokesperson Anna Kaisa Itkonen said in a press statement in Brussels that the EU is adopting a long-term strategy in this regard, adding that “the direction is very clear.” Itkonen noted that the value of the EU’s imports of Russian fossil fuels since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 amounted to $209 billion, in response to Russian claims that Moscow sold European countries fossil fuels worth more than $320 billion during the same period. She pointed out that the EU’s imports of Russian gas, which accounted for 45 percent of its total imports in 2021, have fallen to 12 percent currently as part of European efforts to curb reliance on Russian energy. It is worth noting that Russia remains the second-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU after the United States, accounting for about 17 percent of the bloc’s total LNG imports in 2026. These comments come amid controversy sparked by European criticism of a US decision allowing the import of Russian diesel. (End) A.R.N. / S.M.A.