European officials have dropped plans to impose a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports, citing resistance from some governments and uncertainty about alternative sources. Instead, the European Commission aims to develop a new roadmap to reduce the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy by 2027.
The proposal for a 17th package of sanctions on Russia is expected to be announced in early May, with details scarce so far. However, EU officials have expressed concerns that imposing a ban could lead to losing negotiating power and risking increased dependence on US gas supplies.
US President Donald Trump has urged the EU to buy more American gas, which some see as a possible negotiation tool to convince Washington to drop its tariffs. Despite this, the US administration has yet to clearly outline its demands for the negotiations, leaving the Commission to emphasize the need for a two-way approach.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/eu-shelves-idea-sanctions-russian-lng-imports-2025-04-16