The European Union’s drive to completely ban gas and oil imports from Russia under sanctions over the war in Ukraine is expected to move to its next phase later in the day, as energy ministers are expected to adopt the measure.

The ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, are seeking to forge a common position on a total ban on imports before the decision is finalized in negotiations with the European Parliament.

MEPs already voted in favor last week, allowing negotiations with the capitals to begin.

Under the proposal, imports of oil, pipeline natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) would be completely and permanently banned by 2028 at the latest.

The ban, which will be negotiated with the EP, will be adopted by a simple majority, so countries such as Hungary and Slovakia, which import gas from Russia via pipelines, cannot veto it.

Efforts are underway to impose a ban on Russian LNG imports even earlier as part of the forthcoming package of sanctions on Russia.

Last year Moscow still accounted for roughly a fifth of all EU gas imports, and an increased proportion of LNG, according to its official data. In the first half of 2025, Member States imported almost EUR 4.5 billion worth of LNG from Russia.

Sanctions can be adopted once agreed by the 27 member states, without the involvement of the EP, to speed up the process.

The punitive measures are characterized as temporary and can be lifted when the war in Ukraine ends and when Brussels no longer sees a reason to impose them.

The expected agreement between member states and the EC on the ban would end imports of hydrocarbons from Russia.

At the same time, the foreign ministers will also discuss today in Luxembourg the developments in the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Their Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sibykha is expected to participate in part of their meeting.

The council of ministers will be held some 24 hours after US President Donald Trump’s meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington and the announcement of a meeting between the Republican and his role counterpart Vladimir Putin in Hungary.

The council will discuss the proposal to use frozen Russian resources to finance a loan to give war reparations to Ukraine and the 19th package of sanctions on Russia.

The ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip will also be discussed. The EU has remained on the sidelines of negotiations on a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, but European officials say it intends to take an active role in efforts to restore stability in the Middle East.

Member States are finding it difficult to reach a common position. One of the proposals to be considered is to freeze the imposition of tariffs on imports from Israel.