[…] As China is looking to increase its supply of Russian LNG, the EU is readying a proposal to phase out the fuel by 2027. The bloc has been discussing the matter of ending Russian LNG imports for much of the past three years with various sanctions initiatives, including by a group of 10 states, ultimately faltering in Brussels.
The release of the roadmap to end Russian gas imports has been delayed several times by the European Commission. The decision will require unanimity by all member states. Several EU states, including Hungary and Slovakia, still rely on pipeline gas from the country, while others, led by France and Belgium, continue to welcome shipments of Arctic LNG.
Pledges by EU officials and member states to purchase greater quantities of US-made LNG in an effort to appease the Trump administration in the escalating trade war, could also narrow the path for future Russian imports into the continent. At the same time, the recent tariffs between the U.S. and China, could make Russian LNG more competitive on the Chinese market. Läs artikel