Clock Ticks Down to Europe’s Ban on Russian Gas Tankers

Europe is on the cusp of a pivotal point in its yearslong quest to rid itself of Russian gas. In less than six months, the European Union will end the last of its Russian liquefied natural gas imports, a major step at trying to keep the Kremlin from using its abundant energy to fund its war machine.

To survive the shift, Europe has aggressively increased fuel imports, particularly from the United States. American producers now supply about two-thirds of European liquefied natural gas, a share that could rise to as much as 80 percent by the end of the decade. L.N.G. is gas supercooled to liquid form so it can be transported by sea in special tankers.

But the United States’ relationship with Europe is at a low point, eroded by President Trump’s frequent threats to impose tariffs, his periodic demands to control Greenland and the fissures over America’s decision to wage war with Iran.

That has engendered intense anxiety among defense and energy leaders who fear Europe is escaping the grip of a Russian gas monopoly only to hand Washington — and a mercurial American president — outsize leverage over its domestic energy policies.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/business/russian-lng-european-union.html