EU Launches Final Push to Cut All Russian Energy Imports by 2027
Brussels, May 2025 — The European Commission has presented a new REPowerEU Roadmap aimed at completely phasing out all Russian energy imports by 2027. This follows a recent uptick in Russian gas deliveries to the EU in 2024, despite an overall decline since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
From gas and oil to nuclear materials, the EU’s updated plan targets the elimination of energy ties with Russia in a secure and coordinated way, while accelerating the green transition and ensuring energy price stability.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated: “With REPowerEU, we have diversified our energy sources and drastically reduced our dependency on Russian fossil fuels. Now it is time to fully cut off our energy ties with an unreliable supplier.”
Key Measures in the Roadmap
The Commission outlined the following actions in the roadmap:
- Gas: Ban new contracts with Russian gas suppliers (including LNG and pipeline) starting 2025, and stop all imports by the end of 2027. Spot contracts will be phased out by the end of 2025. Russian gas volumes have already fallen from 150 bcm in 2021 to 52 bcm in 2024.
- Oil: Step up enforcement against Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ of tankers that bypass EU sanctions.
- Nuclear: Prohibit new supply contracts for Russian uranium and enriched nuclear fuel co-signed by the Euratom Supply Agency. The EU will also launch a European Radioisotopes Valley to ensure secure medical isotope production.
National Energy Exit Plans Due in 2025
All Member States must submit national phase-out plans by the end of 2025, detailing their strategies to eliminate Russian fossil and nuclear energy imports. These will complement EU-wide efforts to coordinate infrastructure use, aggregate gas demand, and accelerate clean energy deployment.
Legislative Support Coming Soon
New legislative proposals to support the roadmap will be presented next month. These will include transparency requirements for gas contracts, infrastructure investment, and industrial planning aligned with the Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal, and Affordable Energy Action Plan.
Energy Security Outlook
By 2027, EU gas demand is expected to drop by up to 50 bcm, with global LNG capacity expanding by over 200 bcm by 2028 — nearly five times the EU’s current Russian LNG imports. This shift will ensure stable supply and shield the continent from future energy coercion.
Background: What REPowerEU Has Achieved So Far
Since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the REPowerEU Plan has made notable progress:
- Russian gas dependency dropped from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024.
- Coal imports from Russia were banned under sanctions.
- Oil imports shrank from 27% of EU supply to just 3% today.
- VVER nuclear reactors in Eastern Europe have begun sourcing fuel from alternative suppliers.
This roadmap not only reduces energy-related security risks but also contributes directly to EU economic and climate goals. By investing in clean technologies and securing non-Russian energy sources, the EU aims to build a resilient, independent, and decarbonized energy system.