Europe stops importing Russian LNG on short-term contracts

TASS · Apr 25, 2026 · 270 words

The article reports on the European Union's phased ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, noting that while some short-term bans took effect in 2026, a full ban is not expected until 2027. It provides statistics on Russia's historical share of EU gas imports and quotes Russian officials suggesting that Russia may redirect its supplies to other buyers, such as China and India.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://tass.com/economy/2122353

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning

Selective Omission 60% confidence

Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

8 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 2

info

“The European Union’s ban on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia on short-term contracts officially came into force on April 25.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results mention the April 25 date for the short-term contract ban, but the sources are not independently corroborating this specific date across multiple distinct news organizations. The sources provide varying timelines (e.g., some mention 2027, others mention 2026).

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Russia–EU gas dispute flared up in March 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Russia and the major European Union countries clashed over the issue of payment for natural gas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022–2023_Russia–European_Unio…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6) that has been cooled to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transpo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefied_natural_gas

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Yamal LNG (Russian: ОАО "Ямал СПГ") is a joint venture led by Novatek based around a liquefied natural gas plant located in Sabetta at the north-east of the Yamal Peninsula, northwest Siberia, Russia.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamal_LNG

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“On January 26, the Council of the European Union formally approved a full ban on Russian LNG supplies to the EU starting January 1, 2027, and on pipeline gas from September 30, 2027.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the EU approved a phased ban on Russian gas and LNG by late 2027, citing a final approval on January 26th.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body (directorial system) and a symbolic collective head of state, that defines the overall political direction and general priorities of the Eur…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Council

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union, which is the co-legislator of the EU legislature alongside the European Par…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_the_Council_of_t…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russia–European Union relations are the international relations between the European Union (EU) and Russia. Russia borders five EU member states: Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland; the Ru…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia–European_Union_relation…

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“The ban on LNG imports under short-term contracts took effect on April 25, 2026, while short-term contracts for pipeline gas supplies must be completed by June 17, 2026.”

CORROBORATED

Two distinct web search results provide the specific dates mentioned: April 25, 2026, for short-term LNG contracts and June 17, 2026, for short-term pipeline gas contracts.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Golar LNG owns and operates marine LNG infrastructure. The company had developed Floating LNG liquefaction terminal (FLNG) and Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) projects based on the con…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golar_LNG

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

“The regulation entered into force upon publication on February 2, 2026.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one web search result explicitly states that the relevant EU regulation entered into force upon publication on February 2, 2026. Other sources discuss different dates (e.g., 2027, 2026) but do not corroborate this specific publication date.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The supranational union has a total area of 4,233,255 km2 (1,634,469 sq mi), an esti…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The European Union (EU) is a supranational union of 27 member states that are party to the EU's founding treaties, and thereby subject to the privileges and obligations of membership. They have agreed…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_U…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Patriots.eu (French: Patriotes.eu), formerly known as the Identity and Democracy Party (ID or ID Party) and the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom (MENF), is a nationalist, right-wing populi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots.eu

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“According to TASS calculations, in 2025, Russia ranked second after the United States in terms of the value of LNG imports by the EU, with a share of 16.1% (or 16.2% including both LNG and pipeline gas).”

CORROBORATED

The TASS web search result directly corroborates the claim regarding Russia ranking second in 2025 based on TASS calculations, citing the specific percentages (16.1% and 16.2%).

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Malaysia LNG (MLNG) is a liquefied natural gas manufacturer in Malaysia. It operates in the 9 liquefaction modules PETRONAS LNG Complex, Bintulu, Sarawak. In 2007, it was the largest LNG manufacturing…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_LNG

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russia and the United States maintain strategic foreign relations since the establishment 1991, a continuation of the relationship the United States has had with various Russian governments since 1803…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia–United_States_relations

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“In volume terms, Russia accounted for about 14% of LNG imports into the EU (12.1% of total gas supplies, including pipeline gas).”

CORROBORATED

The TASS web search result corroborates the claim that Russia accounted for about 14% of LNG imports into the EU, and 12.1% of total gas supplies. A different web search result corroborates the 12% figure for total gas imports in 2025.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In total, the EU purchased gas from Russia worth 753 mln euro in February, the lowest level since November 2020.In volume terms, Russia accounted for about 14% of LNG imports into the EU (12.1% of tot…
https://tass.com/economy/2118737

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — For pipeline gas and LNG combined, Russia accounted for around 12% of total EU gas imports in 2025.The United States was the largest supplier of LNG to the EU, accounting for almost 58% of total LNG i…
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/where-does-t…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Russia accounted for around 12% of EU gas imports in 2025, down from 45% in 2021. This has been replaced largely by LNG, which now accounts for around 48% of EU gas imports. Diversifying gas suppliers…
https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/special-reports/20042026/…

check_circle

“Total Russian gas supplies to Europe last year amounted to 38 bln cubic meters, of which just over 20 bln cubic meters were LNG.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results provide figures for 2025: one stating 38 bln cubic meters total with over 20 bln cubic meters being LNG, and another stating 38 bln cubic meters total with over 20 bln cubic meters being LNG.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Total Russian gas supplies to Europe last year amounted to 38 bln cubic meters, of which just over 20 bln cubic meters were LNG. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that, given the…
https://tass.com/economy/2122353

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In 2025, supplies from Russia amounted to 38 billion cubic meters, over 20 billion of which were in the form of LNG. The resulting picture is revealing. The EU imports approximately 90% of its gas, th…
https://en.topwar.ru/276282-bruegel-amerikanskij-spg-v-evrop…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe fell by 44% in 2025 and reached their lowest level since the mid-1970s. This is evidenced by Reuters calculations. The drop is due to the closure of the transit …
https://babel.ua/en/news/124045-pipeline-gas-exports-from-ru…

check_circle

“Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak noted that Russian companies may soon redirect part of LNG supplies from Europe to friendly countries, including China, India, Thailand, and Philippines, without waiting for further EU restrictions.”

CORROBORATED

Two distinct web search results report that Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that Russian companies would redirect LNG supplies from Europe to friendly countries, naming China, India, Thailand, and the Philippines.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Alexander Valentinovich Novak is a Russian politician who is a current deputy prime minister of Russia since November 2020.Novak said that Russian energy supplies to China will increase by 40 percent …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Novak

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that national companies would soon redirect some LNG supplies from Europe to friendly countries, including China, India, Thailand, and the Philippines, …
https://tass.com/economy/2121015

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Russia May Redirect LNG.Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday that he had discussed with domestic energy companies the possibility of redirecting Russian supplies of liquefied …
https://talkmarkets.com/article/russia-threatens-to-redirect…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.

eFinder

eFinder

Europe stops importing Russian LNG on short-term contracts

analyticsAnalysis

psychologyDetected Techniques

fact_checkFact-Check Results