Europe stops importing Russian LNG on short-term contracts

TASS · 🇷🇺 public Russia · Apr 25, 2026 · 270 words

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What to know about Energy Security/Trade Dependence

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.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 1

Topics 1

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center86%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

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

Why it matters

However, a significant decline in Russian LNG sales to Europe should be expected no earlier than in 2027.

Common ground

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.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Selective Omission: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Energy Security/Trade Dependence story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that 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?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

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.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Selective Omission 60% confidence

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

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing selective omission helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 2

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Claim 1: “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.

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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

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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…

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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

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Claim 2: “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%).

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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

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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

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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

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Claim 3: “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).

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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…

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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

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “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.

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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

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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

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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…

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Claim 5: “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.

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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

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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…

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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

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Claim 6: “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.

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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

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “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.

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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

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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…

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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/…

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Claim 8: “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.

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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

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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…

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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…

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.