BRUSSELS — Russian natural gas imports into the EU rose sharply in the first five months of 2026 as countries sought to shore up supplies ahead of a phased-in ban on the fossil fuel.
Between January and May, pipeline imports of Russian gas increased by 7 percent compared with the year before, while imports of liquefied natural gas increased by 11 percent over the same period, according to a new report by EU agency ACER, which convenes national energy regulators.
The EU adopted a phase-in ban on Russian gas last year, enshrining a ban on short-term contracts between April and June this year and long-term contracts beginning in January 2027. Four years after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian gas still meets 12 percent of the EU’s gas demand.
ACER says the increase was likely the result of companies racing to stock up before the ban came into effect, as well as buyers increasing imports within the scope of existing long-term contracts not yet subject to the ban.
