EU looks to accelerate ban on Russian LNG in new sanctions package, official says

BRUSSELS, September 20 ------ The European Commission is discussing a proposal to bring forward a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas in a new package of sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, an EU official said.

The new push follows a call, which opened a new tab between European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The U.S. has stepped up pressure on Europe to play a more robust role in helping to end Russia's war in Ukraine, with a peace deal seemingly elusive despite repeated threats of harsher penalties on Moscow and partners.

Trump's demands include that European nations halt all Russian oil purchases and that the bloc impose tariffs on China and India, both big buyers of Russian fossil fuels. He has also piled pressure on the Group of Seven nations (G7) and NATO, which includes Russian oil buyer Turkey. The EU is already negotiating, opening new tab proposals to completely phase out imports of Russian oil and gas by January 1, 2028, with a ban on short-term contracts kicking in from next year.

The new sanctions, which will be the EU's 19th package of sanctions against Russia since the war with Ukraine began, are due to be presented to member states on Friday, the EU official and diplomats said. The package had been expected as early as last Friday after a high-level EU trip to Washington, and efforts at coordination delayed it a week.

Source: reuters.com