Switzerland will ban Russian LNG imports from 25 April, the federal government announced in Bern, marking a significant escalation in the country’s energy sanctions policy aligned with the European Union. The move targets Russia’s fossil fuel revenues, which Swiss authorities say help finance the war in Ukraine.
The Swiss Federal Council confirmed that a complete ban on the purchase and import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) will take effect nationwide from 25 April. However, companies with existing long-term contracts will be granted a transition period until the end of the year to comply.
Natural gas accounts for around 15 per cent of Switzerland’s total energy consumption and is mainly used for heating and industrial processes. The country does not produce its own natural gas and relies almost entirely on imports via pipeline connections with neighbouring European countries, particularly Germany and France. Although Switzerland does not directly import large volumes of LNG, it is connected to the wider European gas market, where Russian LNG has remained part of supply flows.
The government stated that the LNG ban is designed to reduce Russia’s income from fossil fuel exports. The measure forms part of Switzerland’s decision to align with the European Union’s 19th sanctions package against Russia, adopted late last year.
Although Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it has mirrored Brussels’ economic sanctions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Swiss authorities said maintaining alignment with EU measures ensures consistency in financial, trade and energy policy enforcement.
In addition to the Russian LNG import ban, Switzerland introduced further financial restrictions that will take effect this week. These include a ban on providing cryptocurrency services to Russian citizens and companies. Transactions involving certain rouble-backed cryptocurrencies, including the stablecoin A7A5, have also been prohibited.
The government also extended restrictions on the use of specialised financial messaging services for payment transactions and tightened transit rules for Russian diplomats accredited to the European Union. Under the new rules, affected diplomats must provide advance notification before entering or transiting through Swiss territory.
The decision reflects Switzerland’s continued coordination with European policy responses aimed at limiting Russian access to energy and financial markets, while reinforcing energy security and regulatory oversight across the region.
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