Contract for Russian gas transit through Ukraine not to be extended, nuances remain
The contract for Russian gas through Ukraine will not be extended (Photo: Getty Images)
Currently, the issue of transit of Russian gas through Ukraine after 2024 is not being considered. However, since Ukraine's goal is to become part of the European gas network, companies from EU countries can independently order transit capacities of the Ukrainian GTS, the source in the government reported to RBC-Ukraine.
According to the interlocutor, the details of the gas transit issue in 2025 were not discussed at the meeting between the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, and the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico. According to the Cabinet's press service, in response to Fico's question about extending the contract, the Ukrainian Prime Minister told his colleague that the current transit contract with Gazprom, which expires this year, cannot be extended.
"The Ukrainian side's position is clear: the transportation contract ends this year, and we do not intend to negotiate with the Russians to extend the contract. This is what the Prime Minister of Ukraine informed his Slovak counterpart," the press service reported.
"To continue transit, an option is possible where a Slovak company independently leases capacities of the Ukrainian Natural gas transmission system (NGTS). In this case, gas transit may continue beyond 2024. But this is currently only a speculation," said the interlocutor.
The Operator of the GTS of Ukraine informed RBC-Ukraine that as of today, no official requests regarding natural gas transportation in 2025 from the Slovak side to the GTS Operator have been received.
It is worth noting that the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, stated that the supply of Russian gas through Ukraine may be preserved.
"An agreement has been reached that the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine is likely to continue, and this is good news," Fico said on Facebook after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, in Uzhhorod.
Gas contract
The current transit agreement between Naftogaz of Ukraine and Russian Gazprom was concluded at the end of 2019 for five years. Despite the war, Ukraine allows Russian gas to pass through its territory to countries such as Austria, Slovakia, Italy, and Hungary. The current volume of transit is 42 million cubic meters per day.
However, Ukraine does not plan to extend the transit contract with Gazprom, which expires in December 2024.
