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Europe Adopts 19th Sanctions Package Against Russia, Including LNG Import Ban. The European Union has formally adopted its 19th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine, introducing a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. The package was approved after Slovakia dropped its objections, clearing the way for unanimous agreement among all 27 member states. The Danish EU presidency called it a “significant package” targeting Russia’s main revenue sources through new energy, financial, and trade restrictions. The LNG ban will roll out in two phases: short-term contracts will end in six months, and long-term deals will cease from January 1, 2027. The measure accelerates the EU’s plan to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels, coming a year earlier than the European Commission’s original roadmap. The sanctions also restrict the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU to curb attempts at destabilisation. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the package also hits Russian banks, crypto exchanges, and entities in India and China, making it “increasingly harder for Putin to fund this war.” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the LNG ban a vital step toward fully phasing out Russian energy from the EU market.
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