EU countries ramp up Russian LNG imports to record levels before ban

European Union countries are significantly boosting their imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to record levels in the months leading up to a ban on these purchases. This surge in imports, particularly from the Yamal LNG facility operated by Novatek, is occurring just before new EU restrictions are set to take effect.

In the first half of 2026, EU nations imported a record 9.89 million tons of LNG from Yamal, an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. This volume represents nearly the entire output of the facility for several months. According to the non-governmental organization Urgewald, the total value of these deliveries could be around 6 billion euros, funds that critics argue contribute to Russia's war efforts.

France, Belgium, and Spain have emerged as the largest EU buyers of Russian LNG, importing 3.6 million tons, 2.9 million tons, and 2.7 million tons respectively. Current EU regulations already prohibit short-term contracts for Russian LNG, meaning all deliveries require customs confirmation that the transaction was based on a long-term agreement. The ban on long-term imports of Russian LNG into the EU is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

This decision by Brussels to tighten restrictions in 2026 is part of a broader strategy to phase out Russian fossil fuel purchases by 2027. Despite calls from several member states, including Scandinavian and Baltic nations, for a complete halt to Russian LNG purchases, the EU has not imposed direct sanctions on this specific commodity, unlike other fossil fuels. The official reason cited is the desire to avoid increasing dependence on alternative suppliers, such as the United States. However, new regulations agreed upon in December 2023 allow member states to ban Russian suppliers from accessing gas transmission infrastructure at a national level, enabling European companies to terminate long-term contracts by invoking force majeure.