Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.Kiev (dpa) – The transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe has been suspended as planned, the state-controlled exporter Gazprom announced on January 1.
The Russian company has no legal or technical means of pumping the gas through Ukraine following the non-renewal of the transit contract by the leadership in Kiev, the company wrote on Telegram.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko called the halt to the transit of Russian gas through the war-torn country a “historic event.” “Russia is losing markets, it will suffer from the financial losses,” he said.
Under the contract, Ukraine also long collected billions in transit fees. But Halushchenko said the gas transmission network had been prepared for the delivery stop, assisted by the EU, which sought alternatives to Russian gas after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.
Kiev’s move means that Slovakia no longer receives Russian gas via this pipeline. Slovakia, an EU and NATO member state bordering Ukraine, has threatened Kiev with consequences for taking the step.
The Slovakian government has castigated Kiev for the decision, while assuring the population that its gas storage facilities are 100% full, with enough reserves for the winter period. Prime Minister Robert Fico, who critics accuse of taking a pro-Russian stance, threatened in turn to stop electricity supplies from Slovakia to Ukraine. Fico remains one of the EU’s strongest opponents of military aid to Ukraine.
Moldova was also to have been affected by the Ukrainian transit ban. However, Gazprom had already decided to stop deliveries to the former Soviet republic, where pro-European and pro-Russian forces are vying for power, due to alleged debts. The Moldovan government has denied it owes Gazprom a debt of 790 million USD.
Despite the supply stop, Russian gas continues to reach the EU via other routes, including the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines laid in the Black Sea. TurkStream, for example, supplies not only Turkey but also south-eastern Europe. Russian energy analysts recently said Gazprom could ramp up its deliveries through the pipelines by 4 billion to 6 billion cubic metres per year.
Even now, Russia continues to make billions from its gas exports to individual EU states, including Hungary. Moscow has also recently been increasing exports to China in particular. (1 January)
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