Termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine: how much will it cost the EU and which countries will be hit first
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2025 6:31 am
How will Ukraine's decision not to extend the agreement on the transit of natural gas from Russia affect Europe and whether it is possible to redirect supplies along other routes, read in the RIA Novosti article.
Since January 1, Gazprom has stopped the transit of natural gas to Europe through the territory of Ukraine, as the authorities of this country decided not to extend the contract with the Russian company. In some European countries, the decision of the Kyiv authorities caused a sharp reaction, and in Moldova it led to a serious energy crisis.
How Europe reacted to the termination of gas transit through Ukraine
Photo - © Aleksandr Golubev / Lori Photobank
Tensions over the possible halt of Ukrainian gas transit began tunisia mobile database even before the new year. Slovakia reacted most sharply to Ukraine's announced decision not to extend the contract with Gazprom. On December 20, the country's Prime Minister Robert Fico said : "If Zelensky does not let our gas through, a serious conflict could arise."
Two days later, the Slovak leader visited Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the meeting, Fico directly stated that his trip to the Russian capital was a reaction to the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke out against gas transit through Ukraine.
On December 27, the Slovak Prime Minister announced possible retaliatory measures against Ukraine.
"If this is unavoidable, we will stop the supply of electricity, which Ukraine urgently needs in the event of network outages, or we will agree on another method," Fico said.
The next day, Volodymyr Zelensky accused the head of the Slovak government of opening a “second energy front against Ukraine” on Putin’s orders.
At the same time, the leadership of the European Union, of which Slovakia is a member, stated on December 30 that, despite Slovakia’s concerns, it was ready to stop gas transit from January 1, since this was an “expected situation.”
Among other EU countries, Hungary criticized the Ukrainian leadership's decision. On January 8, the country's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that such a decision was unacceptable and contradicted Ukraine's intentions to join the EU.
Which EU countries are most dependent on gas transit through Ukraine
Photo - © Alexander Doviansky / Lori Photobank
Slovakia's sharp reaction to Ukraine's decision is not surprising, since it is this EU country, along with Austria, that is more dependent on Ukrainian gas transit than others. As a result, these two states will be forced to negotiate alternative routes for obtaining gas from Russia, primarily through the Turkish Stream, Alexey Bobrovsky, director of the Institute for World Market Studies, noted in a commentary for TASS .
In addition, Slovakia and Austria will have to organize reverse gas supplies from Germany (including via the Czech Republic) or from Italy, added Alexey Belogoryev, research director at the Institute of Energy and Finance.
Since January 1, Gazprom has stopped the transit of natural gas to Europe through the territory of Ukraine, as the authorities of this country decided not to extend the contract with the Russian company. In some European countries, the decision of the Kyiv authorities caused a sharp reaction, and in Moldova it led to a serious energy crisis.
How Europe reacted to the termination of gas transit through Ukraine
Photo - © Aleksandr Golubev / Lori Photobank
Tensions over the possible halt of Ukrainian gas transit began tunisia mobile database even before the new year. Slovakia reacted most sharply to Ukraine's announced decision not to extend the contract with Gazprom. On December 20, the country's Prime Minister Robert Fico said : "If Zelensky does not let our gas through, a serious conflict could arise."
Two days later, the Slovak leader visited Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the meeting, Fico directly stated that his trip to the Russian capital was a reaction to the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke out against gas transit through Ukraine.
On December 27, the Slovak Prime Minister announced possible retaliatory measures against Ukraine.
"If this is unavoidable, we will stop the supply of electricity, which Ukraine urgently needs in the event of network outages, or we will agree on another method," Fico said.
The next day, Volodymyr Zelensky accused the head of the Slovak government of opening a “second energy front against Ukraine” on Putin’s orders.
At the same time, the leadership of the European Union, of which Slovakia is a member, stated on December 30 that, despite Slovakia’s concerns, it was ready to stop gas transit from January 1, since this was an “expected situation.”
Among other EU countries, Hungary criticized the Ukrainian leadership's decision. On January 8, the country's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that such a decision was unacceptable and contradicted Ukraine's intentions to join the EU.
Which EU countries are most dependent on gas transit through Ukraine
Photo - © Alexander Doviansky / Lori Photobank
Slovakia's sharp reaction to Ukraine's decision is not surprising, since it is this EU country, along with Austria, that is more dependent on Ukrainian gas transit than others. As a result, these two states will be forced to negotiate alternative routes for obtaining gas from Russia, primarily through the Turkish Stream, Alexey Bobrovsky, director of the Institute for World Market Studies, noted in a commentary for TASS .
In addition, Slovakia and Austria will have to organize reverse gas supplies from Germany (including via the Czech Republic) or from Italy, added Alexey Belogoryev, research director at the Institute of Energy and Finance.