European Union (EU) countries have given final approval to a law that will ban Russian gas imports by late 2027. This turns the EU’s political promise into a legal commitment, almost four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Energy ministers approved the law at a meeting in Brussels. Hungary and Slovakia voted against it, while Bulgaria abstained. Hungary said it plans to challenge the decision at the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

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The ban was passed through a reinforced majority system. This allowed the EU to move forward despite opposition from Hungary and Slovakia, both of which still depend heavily on Russian energy and want closer ties with Moscow.

Under the agreement, imports of Russian liquefied natural gas will stop by the end of 2026. Pipeline gas imports will end by September 30, 2027. If a country struggles to fill gas storage before winter, the deadline can be extended to November 1, 2027.

Before 2022, Russia supplied over 40% of the EU’s gas. By 2025, that share had dropped to about 13%, according to EU data. Still, some EU countries continue to buy Russian oil, pipeline gas, and LNG, raising questions about their support for Ukraine.

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The law also bans companies from signing new Russian gas contracts. Firms with existing deals must cancel them to comply. Short-term contracts signed before June 17, 2025, will end in 2026, while long-term deals must be phased out by the final deadlines.

Companies that fail to follow the law could face fines of up to 3.5% of their total global annual turnover. The European Commission also plans new proposals to phase out Russian pipeline oil and reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel.