Core Points - The EU has reached an agreement to completely ban the import of Russian natural gas by autumn 2027, aiming to cut off a key energy source that supports Russia's military actions and promote energy independence in Europe [1][9]. Group 1: Energy Import Changes - Since the onset of Russia's military actions in 2022, the EU has initiated a "de-Russianization" process for energy, with Russian natural gas's share in total EU imports dropping from 45% in 2021 to 19% by 2024 [3]. - Despite the reduction, Russia is projected to remain the second-largest LNG supplier to the EU in 2024, holding a 20% market share with an estimated import volume of 20 billion cubic meters, valued at approximately 15 billion euros [3]. Group 2: Contractual Changes - Short-term LNG contracts will be terminated starting April 25, 2026, followed by the cessation of short-term pipeline gas contracts on June 17, 2026 [3]. - Long-term LNG contracts will be fully banned from January 1, 2027, while long-term pipeline contracts will be prohibited from renewing after September 30, 2027, with a final deadline of November 1, 2027 [6]. Group 3: Legal and Support Measures - The agreement allows European companies to invoke "force majeure" clauses to legally terminate existing contracts for Russian natural gas due to the EU's ban [7]. - The EU Commission is tasked with developing a special plan to ensure Hungary and Slovakia cease importing Russian oil by the end of 2027, following their previous exemptions from the oil ban [9]. Group 4: Strategic Goals - The core objective of the ban is to end dependency on Russian energy, which has been used as a weapon against Europe, significantly impacting the energy market [11]. - EU leaders emphasize that this agreement marks the dawn of a new era, signifying Europe's complete detachment from reliance on Russian energy sources [9][11].