Civil society calls on EU to ban Russian LNG now in upcoming 19th sanctions package

Ukrainian campaign group Razom We Stand, together with over 50 European and international organisations, has today sent an open letter to EU leaders urging them to close one of the most dangerous loopholes in the sanctions regime against Russia: its continued trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The letter, addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative Kaja Kallas, European Council President António Costa, and all 27 EU Heads of State and Government, demands that the EU adopt a full ban on Russian LNG in the upcoming 19th sanctions package.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the Kremlin has earned more than €931 billion from fossil fuel exports, with €213 billion coming from the EU alone, including over €105 billion from gas sales.

In 2024, the EU paid nearly €22 billion for Russian fossil fuels, surpassing the €18 billion financial aid provided to Ukraine in the same period. These revenues bankroll the missiles, drones and bombs that take countless lives, destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leave families without heat or electricity, and result in the destruction of the EU’s own mission in Ukraine.

Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said: “Every euro spent on Russian LNG is a weapon aimed at Ukraine. It funds the Russian missiles that tear through our homes, schools, and hospitals. Europe’s money still flows to the Kremlin, and with it come the funerals of our loved ones. How many more lives must be shattered before this hypocrisy ends? Europe cannot drape itself in words of solidarity while financing the very bombs raining down on us. The 19th sanctions package must draw a hard line to ban Russian LNG completely and permanently, with no more loopholes and no more excuses. Ukrainians don’t need promises – we need Europe’s courage to turn solidarity into action and finally stop Russia’s war economy.”

The organisations also warn against replacing Russian LNG with fossil fuel imports from other autocratic regimes, or over-relying on volatile US LNG supplies. Instead, they call for greater investment in cheaper renewable energy and cost-saving energy efficiency measures to achieve genuine energy security.

Chiara Martinelli, Director at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, said: “The EU cannot claim to phase out Russian gas while leaving the LNG loophole wide open. That’s why it must align the sanction packages with the Commission’s legislative proposal to ban Russian gas imports, and support a full LNG ban in the next sanctions package. But the lesson from Russia’s war goes further: Europe must not replace one dangerous fossil dependency with another and especially highly costly, methane-heavy, fracked US LNG. Fossil fuels everywhere bring suffering, wars and human rights violations, with devastating costs for societies, economies and environment. The only reliable fossil gas is the gas we phase out. True peace and stability lie in accelerating renewables and energy efficiency, not doubling down on fossil fuel lock-ins.”

Iryna Shulikina, Executive Director at Vitche Germany, said: “Sanctions are working – Russia’s war economy is visibly weakening. We must act now and not let a terrorist state find new ways to profit from its resources. Russia is still exporting LNG. In India, Russian resources are being refined and resold to Europe, keeping us dangerously tied to Russian oil and gas. We must ban all Russian LNG exports now – no loopholes, no delays.”

Steven Vanholme, Programme Manager at EKOenergy ecolabel, said: “Ukraine proves day after day that courage, persistence, cooperation, and determination make the seemingly impossible possible! The least Europe can do is to support Ukraine by cutting funding of Russia’s war with LNG gas purchases.”

Alex Cornell du Houx, President, Elected Officials to Protect the Earth (USA), said, “Every drop of Russian LNG Europe buys is a weapon in Putin’s hands. The solution to the war is clear: shut the door on Moscow’s gas.”

Jaromír Němec, Member of Statutory Body NESEHNUTI Brno, said: “We believe that Europe must stand united in cutting all remaining energy ties with Russia, as only together can we ensure our security and resilience. Czechia has made significant progress by ending its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, notably through the termination of the EU sanctions exemption on Russian crude oil imports in July. However, we cannot unilaterally halt imports of Russian LNG — this issue must be addressed at the EU level. Given that Russia poses a substantial threat to our security, the EU should impose sanctions on Russian LNG without further delay.”

Nezir Sinani, Executive Director at B4Ukraine, said: “Russia remains heavily reliant on EU markets for its LNG exports. Yet, three years into the invasion, Russian LNG supplies accounted for just 6% of the EU’s gas demand. This gives the EU significant leverage — making a full ban on Russian LNG not only feasible, but urgent as the next logical step in cutting off funding for Russia’s war machine.”