EU moves to end reliance on Russian gas

May 06, 2025 (MLN): The European Union is set to unveil a keenly anticipated plan to phase out its remaining gas ties with Moscow, a significant challenge due to Europe’s heavy reliance on Russian fossil fuels, on Tuesday.

EU energy chief Dan Jorgensen will set out the measures, which were delayed as Brussels waited to see whether talks between Russia and the United States yielded a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Responding to Moscow's attack on its neighbour, the European Union enacted a ban on Russian oil in late 2022 and has since sought to wean itself off Russian gas supplies, as APP reported.

Despite imports via pipeline having fallen sharply, several European countries have increased their purchases of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is now transported by sea, and the bloc now wants to turn the tap off completely.

That would pave the way for Europe to buy more LNG from the United States -- something both Brussels and Donald Trump have floated as a way to resolve the standoff sparked after the US president targeted European exports with tariffs.

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic told The Financial Times that the dispute could be resolved "very quickly" through LNG and soyabean purchases -- as a way to reduce the bloc's trade surplus with its US partner.

The United States is already the 27-country bloc's largest LNG supplier, making up 45.3% of the market, with Russia supplying 17.5%, according to EU data.

To do without Russian energy, "the guiding principle is diversification", European Commission chief spokeswoman Paula Pinho said last week.

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