Bangladesh, June 19 -- In a bold yet contentious move, the European Commission has formally proposed a complete ban on Russian natural gas imports by the end of 2027, as part of a broader effort to sever the European Unions longstanding energy ties with Moscow. The announcement, made by Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen on June 17 in Strasbourg, marks a significant escalation in the EUs energy strategy, following years of rising tensions with Russia-most notably since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022.

Jorgensen outlined the plan as a two-phase approach: a ban on new contracts with Russian gas suppliers beginning in 2026, followed by a full phaseout of all imports by 2027. The initiative received the blessing of European Commission Pr...