Lisbon, Dec. 5, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal will "very soon" become independent of Russian gas imports, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced on Friday in parliament, after the European Union agreed this week to a ban in autumn 2027.

"We have set ourselves the goal of ending all gas imports from Russia. We are in a position to say that this is possible," said the head of government in parliament during a debate on the upcoming European Council meeting on 18th and 19th of December.

According to Montenegro, there is currently "only one importer with a long-term contract still in force" and that this year "there have been three deliveries".

"Very soon, we believe, the conditions will be in place for us to become completely independent of any Russian gas supplies," said Montenegro, responding to a question from the Liberal bench.

"It is not an obligation we are bound by, but it is a choice we have made," he added.

On Wednesday, the European Union (EU) reached an agreement to ban all Russian gas imports in the autumn of 2027.

This is a compromise reached between the European Parliament, which wanted a faster ban, and the member states, which wanted a little more time.

Almost four years after the invasion of Ukraine, the European Union intends to deprive Russia of its source of financial revenue from gas.

The share of Russian gas in European Union gas imports fell from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024.

JH/AYLS // AYLS

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