In a move emblematic of the European Union’s ongoing struggle to balance energy needs and geopolitical strategies, Poland, supported by nine other EU member states, has proposed a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).

This initiative seeks to further tighten the bloc’s energy sanctions against Russia, cutting off a significant source of revenue that Moscow has used to fund its military efforts in Ukraine, according to a report by Politico.

Having assumed the rotating EU presidency on January 1, Poland wields considerable influence over the Council's agenda, and it has prioritized efforts to close loopholes and reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels.

The coalition of ten nations backing this proposal points to startling figures: Russia reportedly garnered €200 billion from fossil fuel sales to the EU since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, and in the first half of 2024, EU imports of Russian LNG rose by 11%.

"Russia's ability to sustain its war efforts is deeply intertwined with its energy revenues," the document advocating for these restrictions states.

It underscores the need for decisive action, explicitly calling for an eventual ban on all Russian gas and LNG imports at the earliest feasible juncture.

Despite promises made by European leaders to lessen reliance on Russian energy, Russia remains one of the EU’s primary suppliers of LNG.

Since the start of 2025, the bloc has imported 472,000 tonnes of LNG from Russia, well above pre-2022 levels.

A more gradual phase-out of Russian gas could be considered, but the group of supporting nations urges Brussels to intensify sanctions on Russia’s LNG infrastructure by prohibiting Russian LNG vessels from docking in EU ports.

The proposed measures also extend to banning imports of Russian metals, such as aluminum, reducing reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, simplifying border controls, providing legal frameworks, and sanctioning third-country financial institutions that enable Moscow to bypass Western banking regulations.

While Poland’s leadership in the EU presidency bolsters the likelihood of new sanctions being tabled early in the year, internal divisions remain.

Hungary, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has resisted further energy sector restrictions.

Slovakia, diverging from the proposed constrictions, advocates instead for expanding rather than halting Russian gas imports.

As the EU grapples with devising effective strategies against Russian aggression while safeguarding its energy security, the coming months under Poland’s presidency will be critical in determining the bloc’s next steps in its sanctions policy.