What’s happening
According to Reuters, the European Commission plans to submit a legislative proposal for a permanent ban on imports of Russian oil around 15 April — three days after parliamentary elections in Hungary. The document outlines a phased cessation of imports that would remain in force even in the event of future political changes or peace agreements.
European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen has already explained that the proposal envisages completing the phase-out of Russian oil no later than the end of 2027. By the end of 2025 the share of Russian oil in EU imports had fallen to roughly 1%, mainly due to the ban on seaborne deliveries.
Why after the elections in Hungary
The proponents are aiming to minimize the political impact on the electoral cycle: the decision will be announced after the vote so it does not become a subject of pre-election mobilization in Hungary. This is a rational step — reducing the risk that national governments will use energy as an instrument of domestic politics.
At the same time, the EC is bolstering the legal basis: the law can be adopted by qualified majority (at least 15 states representing 65% of the population), giving a tool to circumvent potential vetoes by Hungary or Slovakia.
What it means for Ukraine
The shift away from Russian energy weakens one component of the Kremlin’s financial and political resilience. For Ukraine this is both a direct and symbolic blow to the aggressor’s resources. At the same time there are important practical risks and opportunities:
- Logistics and transit: the halt of transit via the «Druzhba» pipeline after strikes on an energy facility in Ukraine already had practical consequences — Hungary temporarily blocked some initiatives on loans and sanctions. Transit issues and contracts (in force until 2030) remain key.
- Regional dependence: Hungary and Slovakia still depend on oil from Russia, so their reluctance is understandable from the perspective of national energy security. Kyiv has proposed alternative supply routes — an important element in mitigating risks.
- Political pressure: the law combined with other sanctions reduces Russia’s ability to restore export revenues, but requires coordination among partners, infrastructure solutions and compensation for countries that will be affected.
“The proposal envisages a gradual end to imports of Russian oil no later than the end of 2027.”
— Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy
Mechanics of adoption and possible consequences
The draft could be put to a vote in a way that prevents it from being blocked by individual countries' vetoes. This is a technical but important decision: it shows the EU’s readiness to use majority instruments for strategic decisions. At the same time, the 15 April date is not final — the documents are still preliminary.
Brief outlook
For Ukraine the best-case scenario is that a ban on oil from Russia is accompanied by clear mechanisms to assist states vulnerable to supply losses and practical transport alternatives. This would reduce the risk of geoeconomic compromises detrimental to Kyiv and increase pressure on Moscow.
Now the key question is whether intentions will be turned into concrete steps. For Ukraine’s security it is important that partners not only announce decisions but ensure their implementation and provide support mechanisms for the region.
