EU comments on Russian gas transit through Ukraine
Photo: Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob (Getty Images)
EU leaders intend to discuss Russian gas transit through Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels, among other things. However, the chances of continuing in 2025 are slim, Bloomberg reports.
“Realistically, no,” said Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob in response to a question about the likelihood of resuming gas transit through Ukraine after 2024.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides asked journalists the same question: “it’s one of the issues we’ll discuss with President Zelenskyy.”
As Bloomberg notes, talks to keep transit open have been going on for months, with buyers now increasing pressure and discussions becoming more intense.
Although a renewal is unlikely, as Ukraine has said it does not want Russian gas to continue flowing through its territory after the current agreement expires, possible alternatives are being discussed, including fuel swaps and other intermediaries.
According to Juergen Schneider, head of the energy department at the Austrian Ministry of Energy, the Austrian government is aware of efforts by Slovakia, one of the countries that still depends on Russian gas, to continue transit through Ukraine, but is not aware of any agreement ready to be signed.
Late Wednesday night in Brussels, Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and a group of European leaders to discuss increased support for Kyiv ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House in January.
Moscow-friendly Slovakia and Hungary are making efforts at the state level to ensure that Ukraine continues to transit Russian gas.
However, according to the European Commission, the termination of Russian natural gas transit through Ukraine on January 1, 2025, will have a negligible impact on European prices. The end of the transit agreement has already been factored into winter gas prices.
