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EU to propose faster phase-out of Russian energy, von der Leyen says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 16, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Summary
The EU plans to accelerate the phase-out of Russian energy imports, aiming to increase economic pressure on Russia, von der Leyen announced after discussions with Trump.
EU Plans Accelerated Phase-Out of Russian Energy Imports, Says von der Leyen
EU's Strategy on Russian Energy Imports
(Reuters) - The European Commission will propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports, the European Union executive's head Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday after a call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Von der Leyen said that she had a call with Trump on strengthening joint efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia through additional measures.
More than three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and European Union still import billions of euros worth of Russian energy and commodities, ranging from liquefied natural gas to enriched uranium.
Details of the Proposed Sanctions
"The Commission will soon present its 19th package of sanctions, targeting crypto, banks, and energy," von der Leyen wrote in a post on social media platform X.
"The Commission will propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports," she added.
International Pressure and Economic Implications
The bloc had previously intended to end purchases of Russian oil and gas by January 1, 2028.
The U.S. has stepped up pressure on Europe to play a more robust role in helping to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
Trump has told the EU it should impose harsh tariffs on India and China, the biggest buyers of Russian oil, and stop importing Russian energy itself.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the Trump administration would not impose additional levies on Chinese goods to halt China's purchases of Russian oil unless EU nations first hit China and India with punitive duties of their own.
(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru, Lili Bayer and Julia Payne in Brussels; Editing by Leslie Adler and Marguerita Choy)
Key Takeaways
- •EU plans to accelerate the phase-out of Russian energy imports.
- •Von der Leyen discussed the strategy with U.S. President Trump.
- •The EU will propose its 19th sanctions package targeting energy.
- •The original plan was to end Russian energy imports by 2028.
- •U.S. pressures EU to impose tariffs on India and China.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU to propose faster phase-out of Russian energy, von der Leyen says
1What is the EU planning regarding Russian energy imports?
The European Commission will propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports, according to Ursula von der Leyen.
2When did the EU originally plan to end purchases of Russian oil and gas?
The EU had previously intended to end purchases of Russian oil and gas by January 1, 2028.
3What measures is the U.S. urging the EU to take against Russia?
The U.S. has stepped up pressure on Europe to impose harsher tariffs on countries like India and China, which are the biggest buyers of Russian oil.
4What will the 19th package of sanctions include?
The Commission will soon present its 19th package of sanctions, which will target crypto, banks, and energy sectors.
5Who is involved in discussions about the EU's energy policy?
Ursula von der Leyen mentioned a call with Trump regarding joint efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia through additional measures.
