European Union (EU) countries on Thursday officially approved their 19th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine, which includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.

The 27 member states had already approved the package on Wednesday evening after Slovakia dropped its block.

“It’s a significant package that targets main Russian revenue streams through new energy, financial, and trade measures,” the Danish rotating presidency of the EU said.

The LNG ban will take effect in two stages: short-term contracts will end after six months, and long-term contracts will take effect on January 1, 2027.

The full ban comes a year earlier than the Commission’s roadmap to end the bloc’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels.

Measures in the package also include a new mechanis

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