Bangladesh, Oct. 20 -- The European Union has once again thrust itself into a self-inflicted energy dilemma. On October 20, the European Council announced that all new import deals for Russian gas will be banned starting January 1, 2026, marking a decisive but contentious move in its years-long campaign to sever energy ties with Moscow. The decision, hailed by Western officials as a milestone toward “energy independence,” may instead deepen internal divisions across Europe, strain economies, and accelerate the geopolitical realignments already reshaping global power.

The measure, part of a broader strategy to eliminate Russian fossil fuels entirely by 2028, prohibits the transit of Russian gas through EU territory. Short-term...