Eight European Union countries continue to import Russian natural gas, EU energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on Friday, as reported by The Guardian.
This comes as the European Commission announces a full ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports on Friday, signaling a major step to end the bloc’s reliance on Moscow.
The countries identified are Belgium, France, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain. The EU does not have detailed data on where the gas is ultimately used.
The announcement comes amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has urged the EU and NATO members to completely stop importing energy from Russia.
Some member states, notably Hungary and Slovakia, have raised concerns about phasing out Russian gas without reliable alternative sources. In response, the European Commission moved to fast-track the LNG import ban and release funds to help secure the support of these countries.
Despite efforts to reduce dependence on Moscow since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia still accounts for roughly 19% of the EU’s gas imports.
The bloc continues to push for reduced dependence on Moscow as part of broader sanctions targeting Russia in response to the invasion.
