The European Commission will put forward plans to accelerate the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday following a call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Von der Leyen said the discussion focused on strengthening transatlantic efforts to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow, more than three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“The Commission will soon present its 19th package of sanctions, targeting crypto, banks, and energy,” she wrote on X, adding that Brussels would “propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports.”
The EU had previously committed to ending purchases of Russian oil and gas by January 1, 2028. While the bloc has significantly reduced reliance on Russian energy, billions of euros worth of liquefied natural gas, oil, and enriched uranium still flow into Europe.
Trump has been urging European allies to take tougher steps, including halting remaining Russian energy imports and imposing punitive tariffs on India and China — the largest buyers of Russian oil.
He has warned that Washington will not move ahead with further levies on Chinese goods unless EU nations first adopt their own measures against Beijing and New Delhi.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed that stance, saying the administration wants Europe to lead on sanctions enforcement. Analysts note the EU faces internal divisions on energy security, with some member states heavily dependent on Russian supplies despite efforts to diversify.
The proposed sanctions package is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks, underscoring growing U.S.-EU coordination as both sides seek to tighten the economic squeeze on Moscow.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
