The EU Was Unable to Give Up Russian Gas: Imports Unexpectedly Rose
9 July 11:18
Despite the European Union’s official policy of completely phasing out Russian gas by the end of 2027, imports from Russia unexpectedly rose in the first half of 2026. Pipeline gas supplies increased by 7%, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports rose by 11%. The regulator attributes this not to a failure of sanctions, but to an effort by European companies to make the most of existing contracts before the full ban takes effect. This is stated in the first monitoring report by the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), as cited by Euronews, reports
More Russian Gas
Following the adoption of a new EU regulation in March 2026, the conclusion of new contracts for the supply of Russian gas is effectively prohibited. At the same time, long-term agreements remain in effect until their expiration in 2027.
According to ACER, this is precisely what has led to a paradoxical situation: importers have begun to make more active use of contracts already in place.
According to the agency:
- imports of Russian pipeline gas rose by 7%;
- Russian LNG shipments increased by 11%;
- after the new rules took effect in March, LNG imports accelerated even further— by 17% year-over-year.
“Approved contracts for the supply of Russian LNG to the EU range from 20 to 32 billion cubic meters. The gas is delivered via Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. At the same time, Hungary, Slovakia, and Greece continue to receive Russian pipeline gas under existing long-term contracts,” the ACER report states.
Why the sanctions did not have an immediate effect
ACER emphasizes that the current increase in imports does not mean the sanctions policy has failed.
On the contrary, European companies are seeking to make the most of the remaining term of their contracts before the full ban takes effect in 2027.
Importers’ decisions were also influenced by instability in the global LNG market following the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and disruptions to global supplies.
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“The current trend does not indicate growing dependence on Russia. Importers are likely trying to make the most of existing contract volumes before future restrictions are introduced,” ACER notes.
Kpler analyst Ronald Pinto confirms that Russian LNG imports to the EU reached record levels in April and May.
“European market participants were forced to rely on available LNG sources, making the most of the flexibility offered by existing contracts,” he explained to Euronews.
Who Is Most Dependent on Russian Gas
Despite an overall decline in purchases following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some countries remain critically dependent on Russian supplies.
This applies most notably to:
- Hungary;
- Slovakia;
- Greece.
According to ACER estimates, Hungary and Slovakia covered 70–80% of their gas consumption with Russian supplies in 2024. For Greece, Russian gas accounted for about 50–55% of imports.
“Dependence on Russian gas is unevenly distributed among member states. Most countries have significantly reduced their vulnerability, but a small number of states continue to depend on these supplies,” ACER notes.
Europe is shedding one dependency but gaining another
The regulator believes that the EU’s energy system is much more resilient today than it was during the 2022 crisis. However, moving away from Russian gas has created new challenges.
The main alternative suppliers are now:
- the United States;
- Qatar;
- Algeria;
- Azerbaijan.
Europe’s energy balance is now increasingly dependent on these countries.
Disputes over the EU’s new environmental requirements regarding methane emissions remain an additional risk. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has already warned that strict regulations could lead to a reduction in U.S. gas exports to Europe.
The road to independence is still ahead
Even after four years of full-scale war, Europe has not yet been able to completely break free from its dependence on Russian energy resources. According to the report, the final phase of phasing out Russian gas is only just beginning, and its main stage will take place in 2027 —when most long-term contracts expire.
At the same time, the report indicates that the EU has already significantly diversified its supply sources. While Russia exported 150–157 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe annually before the full-scale invasion, the volume of authorized contracts has now fallen to 45–55 billion cubic meters.
As reported by
