Group 1 - The European Union will fully ban the import of Russian liquefied natural gas starting January 1, 2027, and will also prohibit the import of Russian pipeline gas by September 30, 2027 [2][3] - Existing contracts will have a transition period, and EU countries must verify the gas production countries before authorizing imports [2] - Non-compliance with the new regulations may result in fines of at least €2.5 million for individuals and €4 million for companies [2]

Core Points - The European Union Council has approved a ban on Russian natural gas imports, which will take effect on January 1, 2027, for liquefied natural gas and on September 30, 2027, for pipeline gas [1] - Existing contracts will have a transition period, and EU countries must verify the gas production countries before authorizing imports [1] - Non-compliance with the new regulations could result in fines of at least €2.5 million for individuals and €40 million for companies [1] - By March 1, 2026, EU countries are required to develop plans to diversify gas supplies and identify alternative sources to replace Russian gas [1]