The European Commission has firmly declared that the European Union has no intention of returning to importing Russian gas, even in the event of peace being reached in Ukraine
This ambitious decision was announced against the backdrop of an ongoing energy crisis and a period of political instability accompanying the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. On June 17, the European Commission officially presented a plan for a complete and gradual phase-out of fossil fuel imports from Russia, with the goal of ending this policy by the end of 2027. The announcement by European experts was prompted not only by the prolonged imposition of sanctions against Moscow but also by the EU’s desire to cement its energy independence. According to EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, this decision is unwavering, regardless of peace negotiations' scenarios or their absence. “We are implementing this ban because Russia has used energy as a tool of coercion and weapon against our countries,” Jørgensen stated in an interview with The Guardian. “Moscow employs gas blackmail to try to force European countries to comply with its political and strategic interests. Trust in Russian energy resources has been exploited. This is unacceptable, and we must act decisively.” The European Commissioner emphasized that even if the conflict were to end and peace were to be restored in Ukraine, the ban would remain in effect. “We hope for peace, but even if it does not happen, our course will not change. This is a conscious decision that reflects our values and commitment to independence from Russian energy resources,” Jørgensen said. The draft strategy has already sparked conflict reactions from some EU member states, notably Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. These countries are most dependent on Russian energy resources and oppose the strict implementation of such measures without additional guarantees of supply stability. Preliminary assessments suggest that these countries currently lack sufficient support from other European institutions to enshrine the plan in binding legislation. At the same time, Austria notes that a swift resumption of Russian natural gas imports is only possible under one condition – the conclusion of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Austrian experts believe this would change the situation and open new opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector, but for now, such a decision remains purely hypothetical and a long-term scenario. Overall, this step by the European Commission serves as a signal to the world about the seriousness of the European region's intentions to reduce dependence on Russia and actively protect its interests and energy security. In the context of a global energy crisis and potential new challenges, such a strict policy may continue to influence energy market dynamics and global politics, demonstrating Brussels’ principled stance on the independence and security of its member states.