Key information
- The transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine has ceased following the expiration of a relevant agreement.
- Ukraine's energy minister calls the event “historic” due to Ukraine's national interest, particularly in reducing Russian revenue streams used in the war effort against Ukraine.
- European countries such as Germany and Slovakia have said they are ready for this scenario, citing alternative gas import routes, filled gas storage facilities and measures to mitigate potential disruptions.
Background and agreement
The transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine to Western Europe ceased upon the expiration of the corresponding agreement. The Ukrainian government, in accordance with its prior announcement, no longer allows Russian gas to flow to the west through its pipelines. Ukraine's energy minister called the development a “historic event.”
Impact and reactions
Gazprom, the Russian state-controlled natural gas company, has confirmed that it does not have the legal and technical means to pump gas through Ukraine following kyiv's decision not to renew the transit contract. The agreement, signed in December 2019, officially ended on January 1 at 6 a.m. Central European Time.
Ukraine's motivation
Ukraine justifies stopping gas transit by its desire to reduce Russian revenue flows that would be used to finance the Kremlin's war effort against Ukraine. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko emphasized the point, saying that stopping the flow of gas was in the national interest and a “historic event.”
Regional preparation
This pipeline has long been the main route for transporting Russian natural gas to Central Europe. However, Russia continues to export gas through the TurkStream pipeline, which passes under the Black Sea. Despite the change, Germany's Ministry of Economic Affairs said cutting off Russian gas supplies via Ukraine would not affect Germany's energy security. He emphasizes that Germany is independent of Russian gas and remains ready to support Eastern and Southern European countries in the event of supply interruptions or infrastructure problems.
Alternatives and preparation
The European Commission also declared itself ready to face this scenario, highlighting the flexibility of the European gas infrastructure to accommodate non-Russian sources through alternative routes to Central and Eastern Europe. East. Slovakia also declared itself ready, citing fully stored and sufficient gas reserves for the coming year. The Slovak government assures citizens and businesses that there is no imminent threat of gas shortage. However, Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Ukraine on Friday that his country could cut off electricity supplies in retaliation.
Country-specific considerations
Countries like Czechoslovakia and Hungary, which still rely on the Russian gas pipeline, face greater potential challenges if supplies cease. Although Austria has also historically received a significant share of its natural gas from Russia, it considers itself well prepared for the supply cutoff thanks to filled gas storage facilities and alternative import routes passing through Italy and Germany.
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