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According to CCTV News, the European Council said on the 20th thatEuropean UnionMember StatesSupport the proposal to gradually halt Russian gas imports by January 2028.
At the EU Council meeting held in Luxembourg that day, EU energy ministers approved the relevant proposal. As of January 1, 2026, the EU prohibits internal parties from entering into new contracts with Russia for imported natural gas; At the same time, a transition period is reserved for existing contracts, with short-term contracts lasting until June 17, 2026 and long-term contracts terminating before January 1, 2028. The proposal also needs to be approved by the European Parliament.
Hungarian Foreign and Economic Minister Seyardo Peter told reporters that the actual impact of the proposal is that Hungary’s energy security will be completely undermined.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU has significantly reduced imports of natural gas from Russia through pipelines, but some European countries have increased the amount of Russian liquefied natural gas imported by sea. According to EU estimates, Russian natural gas still accounts for about 13% of EU imports, with an annual value of more than 15 billion euros.
On September 18, local time, the day before the European Commission submitted the 19th round of sanctions against Russia, the Russian side expressed opposition. The EUMember StatesHungary also raised objections.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova said that the EU has always insisted onMember StatesThe economy has a destructive route, namely the continuous reduction of Russian energy imports, which is a self-destructive "self-destructional" act. Zakharova warned that if it continues along this suicidal path, it will only lead to more serious consequences. In this case, the punishment brought by the EU's blind policy to EU countries is no less than the countermeasures taken by Russia.
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Cover image source: Daily Economic News