The EU will start phasing out Russian gasoline imports, with the primary contracts to be cancelled from April.
The EU will start phasing out Russian gasoline imports, with the primary contracts cancelled from April (Picture: Getty)
Vladimir Putin’s gasoline export trade is about to take a significant blow after the publication of recent EU plans. On Tuesday (February 3) the bloc revealed the REPowerEU regulation in its Official Journal, setting out the gradual cessation of Russian gasoline imports.
The regulation takes impact from at present, with the primary contracts to be cancelled from April 25. This comes as a part of the EU’s choice to fully withdraw from Russian gasoline imports by 2027.
The laws implement a number of restrictions, together with: the banning of short-term contracts for liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) from April 25, short-term contracts for pipeline gasoline from June 17, long-term contracts for LNG imports from January 1, 2027 and imports of pipeline gasoline beneath long-term contracts from September 30, 2027.
EU nations gave ultimate approval to a phased plan to ban imports of Russian gasoline on January 26 (Picture: Getty)
“Revealed at present, the REPowerEU Gasoline Regulation (EU/2026/261) lays down the authorized provisions for the gradual phase-out of imports of pure gasoline from Russia. This historic choice, adopted on the finish of final yr, goals to place an finish to the EU’s dependence on Russian gasoline as soon as and for all by 2027,” the European Fee mentioned.
On January 26, EU nations gave ultimate approval to a phased plan to ban imports of Russian gasoline. The identical day, Hungarian International Minister Péter Szijjártó revealed Budapest deliberate to file a lawsuit with the Courtroom of Justice of the EU (CJEU) as quickly as the choice on the REPowerEU plan was revealed. It later emerged that Slovakia would comply with Hungary’s lead and likewise take authorized motion towards the EU’s ban on vitality imports from Russia.
As of early 2026, Russian gasoline nonetheless accounts for roughly 13% of EU imports and is price an estimated €15billion (£13billion). In 2025 alone, Russian gasoline exports to the EU introduced the Kremlin this eyewatering sum. Some estimates counsel that between early 2025 and the top of 2027, the EU might nonetheless ship one other €30 to €40billion (£26-35billion) to Russia for gasoline and oil imports beneath long-term contracts earlier than they fully stop.
Whereas Russia has efficiently redirected some vitality exports to Asia, the lack of the premium European market considerably reduces its finances flexibility. In 2025, oil and gasoline revenues already fell to a five-year low, dropping 24% to eight.48 trillion rubles (£81billion).
China and India are the first locations for Russia’s crude oil, whereas Turkey leads in oil product purchases, changing a lot of the European market misplaced resulting from sanctions. The G7 worth cap goals to restrict Russia’s oil income, although the nation has discovered methods to bypass it, utilizing its “shadow fleet” and redirecting flows.
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