The European Commission will soon present a proposal to accelerate the phase‑out of Russian electricity, oil and gas imports ahead of the existing target date of January 1, 2028. Ursula von der Leyen has signalled the Commission intends to include the accelerated exit of fossil fuel purchases in its 19th sanctions package in response to mounting pressure from the United States. Under current plans the EU banned most maritime crude oil imports from Russia and imposed a price cap on remaining Russian‑oil purchases. New measures under discussion would halt new long‑term contracts with Russian energy suppliers. They may also ban short‑term contracts next year. Some EU member states are resistant. Hungary and Slovakia have expressed concerns about rising energy costs and heavy dependence on Russian supplies. US President Donald Trump has urged the EU to act more swiftly and impose sanctions on third‑party buyers of Russian oil such as China and India. Brussels is weighing the diplomatic risks of such secondary sanctions. The push to move up the deadline comes as Europe seeks to reduce Russia’s financial resources for its war in Ukraine while strengthening energy security. Under previous EU frameworks member states committed to replacing Russian oil and gas imports with alternative sources and accelerating clean energy. Legal proposals are being negotiated that would enshrine the phase‑out deadline in law and reduce exemptions for countries particularly reliant on Russian energy infrastructure. Expected effects include disruptions in energy markets as EU countries hasten sourcing alternatives. Policymakers are seeking mechanisms to soften any economic impact on consumers, especially in states with high dependency on Russian oil and gas imports. If adopted the accelerated plan would mark a significant tightening of EU energy policy and a step toward eliminating Russia as a major energy supplier to Europe earlier than previously thought. Photo credit: Flcelloguy, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2351321...