The EU is planning to slash natural gas purchase targets — even as U.S. President Donald Trump insists that buying more gas is the only way to end his trade war. politico.eu/article/donald…

The EU will suggest measures to forbid companies from signing new oil and gas contracts with Russia in an upcoming plan to end the bloc’s reliance on Moscow’s imports, according to a senior EU official. w/Zia Weise pro.politico.eu/news/197505

NEW: EU countries are considering ordering the Commission to prepare a detailed impact assessment of its upcoming Russian gas ban. Despite a large majority of capitals backing the plan, Hungary and Slovakia remain fiercely opposed. pro.politico.eu/news/199022

NEW: EU countries are considering demanding that Brussels revisit methane emission rules being swept into trade negotiations with the U.S. That comes after Trump gave the EU a temporary reprieve from imposing blanket 50% tariffs on the bloc. pro.politico.eu/news/eu-countr…

NEW: The EU's two biggest buyers of Russian LNG are refusing to endorse Brussels' plan to ban Moscow’s imports. France and Belgium argue they need more reassurances on the economic and legal consequences of the move before making a decision. politico.eu/article/eus-to…

NEW: The EU is seeking to ban LNG terminal services for Russian customers in its plan to end its reliance on Moscow, a draft text shows. It also wants customs officials to make countries like Serbia give evidence their gas exports do not come from Russia. pro.politico.eu/news/200349

NEW: EU countries will discuss a proposal that casts doubt on a suggested 2026 deadline for the bloc to end short-term Russian gas contracts. pro.politico.eu/news/201485

NEW: EU countries are considering giving companies an extra six weeks to comply with an incoming ban on Russian gas, according to a negotiation document obtained by POLITICO. pro.politico.eu/news/204632

politico.eu/article/quit-r… If Donald Trump is going to slap sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, there are a few things he’d like his European allies to do first. But meeting some of these demands will be easier than others. w/Camille Gijs Antonia Zimmermann @zimmerfrau.bsky.social

The EU plans to propose sanctions on more Chinese companies this week, just as Donald Trump pressures the bloc to slap sweeping tariffs on Beijing as a condition for more sanctions on Russia. politico.eu/article/eu-chi… w/ Camille Gijs Antonia Zimmermann @zimmerfrau.bsky.social

New: I got hold of the draft of the 19th sanctions package and my great colleagues Camille Gijs and Victor Jack unpacked it for our Pro readers politico.eu/pro/eu-sanctio…

Why didn't NATO's warplanes take down the Russian MiG-31s over Estonia last week ? Laura Kayali & Victor Jack explain the thinking behind NATO's response so far ⤵️✈️ politico.eu/article/nato-r…

pro.politico.eu/news/205440 EU countries are considering easing reporting requirements for tracking Russian gas imports to the bloc as part of Brussels’ mooted supply ban, per a doc obtained by POLITICO.

NEW: The European Parliament will push for an accelerated Russian gas ban by late-2026 and an end to Moscow's oil imports by the end of this year, per a provisional deal by POLITICO. pro.politico.eu/news/205873

NEW: Russian-linked vessels are continuing to leak oil off Europe’s shores — despite Western sanctions — underscoring the continent’s inability to rein in Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet. Read our joint investigation with SourceMaterial here: politico.eu/article/russia…

EU ambassadors today failed to finalize their position on Brussels’ landmark plan to end imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027 after persisting technical concerns over the text. pro.politico.eu/news/206123

Great to speak to Estonian public broadcaster ERR News about NATO's response to the recent Russian airspace violations of the frontline state. err.ee/1609814646/ak-…

NATO defense ministers meet today, as the alliance strains to protect its skies after recent airspace violations. A key issue to resolve: whether national rules are stopping NATO’s top military officer from tackling these aerial threats. w/Paul McLeary politico.eu/article/nato-w…

Pressure is growing on NATO countries to join the organisation's arms-buying program for Ukraine, after a majority of allies on Wednesday said they were backing the scheme backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. w/Paul McLeary politico.eu/article/pressu…

NEW: A requirement asking EU countries to track Russian gas before its enters the bloc will likely remain part of Brussels’ ban on imports. Despite pushback from France among others, the final country negotiation document keeps that requirement in place. pro.politico.eu/news/206691