The bloc has reportedly backtracked on the restrictions to retain leverage in trade talks with Washington

EU officials have stepped back from plans to include a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports in an upcoming sanctions package against Moscow, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The decision, one official told the agency, was driven by internal opposition, uncertainty over replacing the supply, but also concerns that a ban could weaken the EU's negotiating power with the US.

The 17th package is part of broader efforts by the EU to pressure Russia over the Ukraine conflict. Sanctioning Russian LNG now could strip the bloc of a key bargaining chip in ongoing trade talks with Washington, an unnamed EU official told Reuters.

The European Commission is reportedly seeking to use energy imports, including LNG, as leverage to persuade the US to lift tariffs on EU goods.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged the EU to increase purchases of American gas. Some EU officials see this as an opportunity to negotiate the rollback of 25% tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, reinstated in February. Enforcement of the tariffs was delayed by a 90-day pause to allow time for negotiations.

Last week, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic met with US officials in Washington for initial talks. The commission described the meeting as a "scoping exercise" and said the US must still clarify its demands.

The idea of banning Russian LNG was previously floated during talks on the EU's 16th sanctions package, adopted in February 2025, but was dropped following discussions in January due to reported opposition from member states.

Some countries, including France, Spain, and Belgium, continue to import significant volumes of Russian LNG, accounting for 85% of Europe's Russian LNG imports, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

While pipeline gas imports from Russia have declined since 2022, the EU's imports of Russian LNG have increased. In 2024, Russia accounted for 17.5% of the bloc's LNG supply, making it the second-largest source after the US, which held a 45.3% share.

The European Commission is currently drafting a roadmap to end dependence on Russian energy by 2027, with the plan expected in early May.

In February, Russia's first deputy energy minister, Pavel Sorokin, told RT during India Energy Week in New Delhi that the country is ramping up its LNG production and exports despite international sanctions. He said Russia could boost LNG shipments to India, noting the "competitive pricing" and stressing that Moscow will continue to trade with its partners despite growing pressure from the US and its allies.

(RT.com)