The European Union on Tuesday said it has devised a plan to halt all Russian energy imports by 2027.
Arguing that the 27-member bloc already significantly reduced its reliance on Russian energy, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X that the plan "will mark a permanent break."
"Russia will no longer be able to use energy as a weapon against us," she said.
The EU says it has dropped its share of Russian gas imports from roughly 45% in 2022 to 19% now.
The new "roadmap" will see a 鈥済radual鈥� removal of Russian oil, gas and nuclear energy from the EU markets in a 鈥渃oordinated and secure manner as the EU transitions to clean energy,鈥� the European Commission said in a statement.
EU countries, it said, will prepare national plans by the end of 2025 setting out how they will contribute to phasing out imports of Russian gas, nuclear energy and oil.
鈥淎t the same time, efforts will continue to accelerate the EU鈥檚 energy transition and diversify鈥痚nergy supplies to eliminate risks to the security of supply and market stability,鈥� the statement said.
The EU vowed to end its decades-old energy relations with Russia after the latter鈥檚 war on Ukraine in 2022.
By Ahmet Gencturk in Athens
Anadolu Agency
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