EU bans transit of Russian gas

Restrictions on new deals will come into force in 2026, with a transition period set for existing contracts, the bloc has said

EU members have agreed to ban the transit of Russian gas through the bloc’s territory as part of a wider push to phase out Russian energy, the European Council has said.

Signing new import deals for Russian gas will be prohibited in the bloc from January 1, 2026, the council said in a statement on Monday. For existing contracts, a transition period will be introduced, it added.

Short-term deals reached before June 17, 2025, will be allowed to run until June 17, 2026, while long-term ones will be permitted to run until January 1, 2028, the statement read.