Un new shock for the energy market. Russian gas imports to Europe via a pipeline through Ukraine are now halted. Gazprom, the Russian public energy giant, announced the suspension of gas exports to Europe through this channel, as of Wednesday 1is January at 8 a.m.
This decision follows the expiration of a bilateral transit agreement, which kyiv chose not to renew for “national security” reasons. It was the oldest route for transporting Russian gas to Europe. Russia will continue its exports thanks to the TurkStream gas pipeline in the Black Sea, which can supply southeastern Europe in particular.
The decision not to renew the agreement, signed five years ago, comes against a backdrop of growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. As the conflict between the two countries approaches its third anniversary, this breakdown in negotiations reflects an escalation in geopolitical disputes. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, relations between the two nations have deteriorated considerably, and energy issues, notably gas transit, have become a crucial issue.
“It’s a historic event”
kyiv, whose tensions with its neighbor had already been exacerbated by Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, reiterated that it would not extend the gas agreement. In a statement released Wednesday, Ukraine's Energy Ministry said Russian gas no longer transits through Ukrainian territory.
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“This is a historic event,” announced Minister German Galushchenko, citing “national security” as the reason for not renewing the transit agreement, according to comments reported by his services.
Since the offensive launched by Russia in February 2022, which Ukraine and its Western allies denounce as an invasion, the European Union has strived to reduce its energy dependence on Russia.
