Image: DPA
analysis
To compensate for the decline in Russian pipeline gas, Europe has imported more and more liquefied natural gas in recent years. A significant proportion still comes from Russia.
May 10, 2026, 7:26 p.mMay 10, 2026, 7:26 p.m
There has recently been a complete ban on the purchase and import of Russian liquefied natural gas in Switzerland. The Federal Council decided in Februaryto adopt the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia, which, among other things, provides for such a ban. The export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has developed into an alternative to the sanctioned pipeline gas business for Russia over the last four years of the war.
Europe has continuously imported more LNG during this time. While the LNG share of total EU gas imports was 20 percent in 2021, it already accounted for 45 percent in 2025. Show that Figures from the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.
The EU now sources more than half of its LNG from the USA, but according to Bruegel, almost 20 percent still comes from Russia – despite sanctions. Explosive: Because Switzerland sources its natural gas on the European market and therefore has no influence on its origin, many rooms in this country are still heated with Russian gas.
With the purchase and import ban of Russian LNG the Federal Council is now trying“To reduce Russia’s revenue from the sale of fossil fuels, which significantly help finance the war against Ukraine.” The ban has been in effect since Saturday, April 25th. For pre-existing long-term delivery contracts, a transition period applies until the end of the year.
Axpo purchased gas from Russia
Purchasing of Russian LNG was largely scaled down in Switzerland following the invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The electricity company Axpo, which had purchased numerous raw materials from Russia before the war – in addition to natural gas, coal, petroleum and metals – let its contracts expire.
When asked, Axpo wrote that it would “of course support all current and future sanctions”. There is no longer any Russian liquid gas on the books. A look at the annual reports shows: Switzerland’s largest electricity producer has not concluded any contracts with the Russian gas company Gazprom since the end of 2022 and has not concluded any new contracts with Russian counterparties since the start of the war.
Other raw materials companies with branches in Switzerland have also turned off Gazprom. Trafigura, based in Geneva, for example, has not imported any natural gas from Russia since the beginning of the war. As a result, the Federal Council’s LNG ban has no impact on business activities, says a spokeswoman.
However, a few companies registered in Switzerland continued to trade in Russian LNG. About that one Zug branch of the gas company NovatekRussia’s number two behind Gazprom. The latest sanctions are now likely to put a stop to this business. (bzbasel.ch)