The EU has lifted its ban on imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia.
The EU lifted its ban on Russian LNG imports due to uncertainty about alternatives and a desire to expand its supply from the US.
According to RIA Novosti on April 17, Reuters, citing European officials, reported that the EU has abandoned the idea of imposing a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) due to opposition from some governments and uncertainty regarding alternative sources.
"European officials have abandoned the idea of imposing a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas into the bloc in upcoming sanctions packages, due to opposition from some governments and uncertainty about alternative sources," the source said.
Instead, the European Commission (EC) said it intends to develop a new roadmap in May to end its dependence on Russian energy by 2027. At the same time, according to the agency, the EC is preparing its 17th package of sanctions against Russia by June 2025, but implementation is progressing slowly.
The source also suggested that European officials wanted to leverage the US desire to expand gas exports to the EU to negotiate a reduction in US tariffs, although Washington's demands remained unclear.
Additionally, one of Reuters' sources indicated that the European Commission is concerned that the loss of Russian LNG supplies due to restrictions will weaken its negotiating power.
Furthermore, the bloc is concerned about the risk of dependence on the US – the bloc's third-largest supplier of green fuels. Although LNG supplies from the US have partially filled the gap caused by the decline in Russian gas, Europe's energy security remains fragile.
President Donald Trump's return to the White House with a tough stance on trade, coupled with moves that have strained transatlantic relations, has led European leaders to fear that dependence on the US could become a new "weak point."
Faced with cost pressures and the risk of supply chain disruptions, many leaders of major energy companies in the EU are beginning to discuss the possibility of resuming imports of Russian gas, something they considered "unthinkable" just a year ago.
