Europe Adopts 19th Sanctions Package Against Russia, Including Ban on LNG Imports

The European Union on Thursday formally adopted its 19th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, which for the first time includes a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The package was approved by all 27 member states on Wednesday evening, after Slovakia lifted its objections, clearing the final hurdle to adoption.

“This is a significant package that targets Russia’s main sources of revenue through new energy, financial, and trade measures,” the Danish EU Presidency said in a statement.

The LNG ban will be phased in two stages: short-term contracts will expire in six months, while long-term contracts will end on January 1, 2027. The move comes a full year ahead of the European Commission’s roadmap for ending the bloc’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

The statement added that the package also includes a new mechanism to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “The new measures target Russian banks, crypto exchanges, and entities in India and China. By limiting the movement of Russian diplomats, the EU is countering destabilization efforts. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Putin to fund this war.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the LNG import ban “a crucial step toward eliminating Russian energy from the EU entirely.”