Kiev: Russian gas transit agreement via Ukraine ends on January 1

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said that the agreement on the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine will not be extended beyond the end of the year, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.

After a conversation with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Shmygal wrote on „Telegram“ that Ukraine is willing to discuss gas transit from any country except Russia.

„In this regard, if the European Commission officially addresses Ukraine about the transit of gas other than Russian, we will naturally discuss it and are ready to reach an appropriate agreement“, Shmygal said. „I emphasize that Ukraine's agreement with Russia on gas transit expires on January 1, 2025. and will not be extended“, he added.

The Ukrainian prime minister pointed out that much has already been done over the past year to ensure sufficient energy supplies, especially gas, to EU countries.

Slovakia and other countries receiving gas from Russia via Ukraine are in talks to try to avoid a halt to transit after the agreement expires, Reuters notes.

Before his conversation with Shmyhal, Fico said that maintaining gas transit was not only a bilateral issue between Ukraine and its neighbors, but also a matter for the entire European Union.

Last week, the Slovak prime minister said his goal was to ensure continued supplies from the east to avoid paying higher fees to other suppliers. Slovakia has a long-term contract with Russian gas giant “Gazprom“.

Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said earlier in Brussels that European countries and companies will need about 15 billion cubic meters of Russian gas transited through Ukraine next year and are already in talks to secure new supplies.

Bratislava hopes the agreement will cover gas supplies for the next two to three years. The EU's goal is to stop using Russian fossil fuels by 2027, Reuters recalls.

Moldova - a former Soviet republic and Ukraine's western neighbor - is also in talks to secure supplies from “Gazprom“ and in view of the upcoming expiration of the transit agreement, is considering securing Russian gas via Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.

Representatives of the Ukrainian authorities reported that talks have also been held to explore the possibility of supplying gas from Azerbaijan to European countries via Ukraine.