Europe has not proposed a ban on Russian LNG during its latest package of sanctions.
This was because EU member states raised concerns about first securing alternatives, including from the US, officials have explained.
"First you have to have a deal because otherwise you will be left without gas from Russia and without the US," one of the diplomats said to newswires.
In June last year, the EU banned transhipments of Russian LNG in a further package of restrictions on Russia imposed over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Russia had been using northern European ports to undertake LNG ship-to-ship (STS) transfers for onward journeys to Asia.
Since the ban took effect, more Russian LNG has remained in Europe, prompting some member states to push for tighter rules and an all-out ban.
However, the EC did not propose tougher measures after a push back from some member states. EU sources said the cold winter weather, gas stocks drawdown and the timing of the 23rd February German election put a further dampener on the idea.
"There was never an original measure, so I don't think it's useful to talk about it in terms of watering down," one European diplomat told Reuters.
"The general idea was floated by the Commission in confessionals in order to test the waters...Apparently, one or more members signalled enough opposition for the Commission not to deem it opportune to propose such a measure now."
US President Donald Trump has said he wantsthe EU to buy more US LNG and that he will make more of it available.
It is unclear when the EU could secure more US LNG in the short term, as exports are already at full capacity.
