EU Pushes Up Timeline to Drop Russian Oil Imports

Mace | 17th September 2025 | Brussels, Uncategorised

The European Commission is preparing to accelerate the exit from Russian oil, gas, and fossil fuel imports ahead of its prior 2028 deadline. Pressure from the United States has intensified. Resistance from Hungary and Slovakia remains. Legal changes and bans on new contracts are key components of the revised plan.

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 ris...

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