Sanctions and tariffs on Russian gas reshape LNG contracts and trigger litigation

The regulatory framework imposed by the European Union on Russian gas imports is structurally altering the contractual landscape of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Adopted by the EU Council and European Parliament, the legislation bans pipeline and LNG imports from Russia according to two specific deadlines: from 25 April 2026 for short-term contracts concluded before mid-June 2025, and from 1 January 2027 for long-term contracts. This ban does not automatically terminate existing contracts, shifting the legal risk toward force majeure clauses, change-in-law provisions, and arbitration procedures.