EU's 25 April LNG ban
EU regulation banning new short-term Russian LNG import contracts from 25 April 2026.
Last refreshed: 1 April 2026
- What is the EU 25 April LNG ban?
- The EU ban prohibits new short-term contracts for Russian LNG imports from 25 April 2026 onwards, targeting spot and short-term supply deals.Source: entity background
- Does the EU LNG ban affect existing long-term contracts?
- No. The ban applies to new or renewed short-term contracts. Existing long-term supply contracts are not immediately terminated.Source: entity background
- Why did the EU ban Russian LNG but not oil in April 2026?
- The European Commission deferred its oil ban proposal due to price volatility from the Iran conflict, while confirming the pre-scheduled LNG short-term contract ban proceeds.Source: entity background
- Which countries opposed the EU LNG ban?
- Hungary opposed further energy sanctions tightening but could not block the measure under the EU qualified majority mechanism.Source: entity background
- How much Russian LNG does the EU import?
- The EU imported roughly 50 billion cubic metres of Russian LNG in 2024, making the ban materially significant for Russian export revenue.Source: entity background
Background
The EU's 25 April LNG ban prohibits member states from entering new or renewed short-term contracts for Russian Liquefied Natural Gas, targeting the route Russia has used to sustain energy revenue as pipeline flows declined. The measure applies to spot and short-term contracts; existing long-term contracts are not immediately affected.
The ban was confirmed by the European Commission as proceeding on schedule even as the Commission deferred its separate proposal for a permanent Russian oil import ban, citing price volatility linked to the Iran conflict. The EU imported roughly 50 billion cubic metres of Russian LNG in 2024, making the cut-off financially significant for Novatek and Gazprom's export revenue.
The measure is part of the EU's broader energy sanctions package, which has progressively tightened since February 2022. Hungary, heavily dependent on Russian energy imports, has opposed further tightening but was not able to block the LNG measure, which passed through a qualified majority mechanism.