The European Union announced on Thursday that it will lock in its deadline to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by January 1, 2028, holding firm even as Washington demands an accelerated timetable. According to Reuters, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen confirmed the commitment following talks in Brussels with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Draft legislation is now being prepared to prevent new short-term contracts with Russian suppliers, ensuring the exit remains enforceable.
The decision follows a pointed intervention from President Donald Trump earlier this week, when he called on Europe to stop buying Russian oil immediately. The White House is reportedly considering tariffs or secondary sanctions on third countries that continue importing Russian barrels, a measure designed to squeeze Moscow’s revenues after years of sanctions evasion through intermediary traders.
Brussels, however, is pursuing a different path. Jorgensen told reporters that the EU must balance sanctions with price stability and security of supply, warning that a rushed cutoff could spark sharp market dislocations. That approach relies on building out replacement volumes from U.S. and Qatari LNG, investing in domestic renewables, and tightening sanctions enforcement against the shadow fleet carrying Russian crude through non-EU ports. Both Washington and Brussels are already preparing joint measures to restrict those flows.
Markets are now watching whether the EU’s 19th sanctions package, expected before the end of this year, will alter the timeline.
Member states most exposed to Russian energy, particularly Hungary, had lobbied to keep the 2028 target unchanged, while the remainder were more or less open to an accelerated phase-out. The U.S. has signaled that it may act unilaterally if Europe refuses to move sooner.
For now, the EU remains anchored to its 2028 plan, betting that gradual substitution will preserve energy stability while still denying Moscow its long-term revenue lifeline. There has been no official response from the White House as of the time of writing.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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