The European Commission says Nord Stream will not restart deliveries of Russian gas after the war in Ukraine ends. The announcement challenges a reported US-Russian proposal to revive the route. EU legislation requires all Russian gas imports to end by the close of 2027, regardless of developments in the war.
The pipeline route stretches more than 1,200 kilometres under the sea between Russia and Germany and is subject to EU sanctions. Nord Stream 1 has not operated since an explosion in 2022. Nord Stream 2 never received approval from Germany to begin operating.
The EU has already phased out short-term contracts for Russian liquefied natural gas, or LNG, which is gas in liquid form. Long-term LNG contracts will end by January 2027, followed by pipeline gas contracts by September. The Commission says this timetable is separate from sanctions and does not depend on political events.
Russia's share of EU pipeline gas fell from around 40% in 2021 to around 6% in 2025. However, switching supplies has been costly, as Europe has turned heavily towards more expensive American LNG. The Commission accuses Russia of using energy supplies as a weapon. Most EU countries still consider purchases from Moscow an unacceptable risk to their shared security.
