Instead, the European Commission is developing a roadmap aimed at ending the bloc’s dependence on Russian energy by 2027. The plan is expected to be released in early May, although details remain unknown.
“The Commission is expected to propose its 17th package of sanctions against Russia by June,” the report said.
“Officials said work on the measures is proceeding slowly, and the idea of banning imports of Russian LNG was last discussed in January as the Commission finalized its 16th sanctions package.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants the EU to purchase more LNG from the United States—a proposal EU officials see as a potential bargaining chip to persuade Washington to drop punitive tariffs. However, U.S. officials have yet to clearly outline their demands.
One official noted the European Commission does not want to risk losing Russian LNG due to sanctions and thereby weaken its negotiating position.
There is also concern among EU governments about becoming dependent on the United States, now the third-largest gas supplier to the bloc after Russia and Norway.
Earlier reports indicated that the Commission would unveil a more detailed strategy to gradually phase out Russian oil and gas imports in May—a plan that had previously been delayed twice.
Additionally, executives from the EU’s largest companies are discussing at least a partial resumption of pipeline gas imports from Russia, which were halted after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.