Ukraine to not extend gas transit agreement with Russia - Prime Minister
Photo: Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal (kmu.gov.ua)
Ukraine will not extend the gas transit agreement with Russia after its expiration, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says.
“Ukraine will not extend the transit agreement with Russia after its expiration. The strategic goal of Ukraine is to impose sanctions on the Russian gas molecule, to deprive the Kremlin of profits from the sale of hydrocarbons, which the aggressor uses to finance the war,” Shmyhal emphasizes.
He also calls on all European countries to completely abandon oil and gas from Russia.
“We understand the acute dependence of some countries, in particular Slovakia, on this resource. But we are counting on the gradual diversification of supplies,” the Prime Minister adds.
At the same time, he says, Ukraine is ready to continue to fulfill its obligations under the Association Agreement with the European Union and the Energy Charter Treaty.
Transit agreement
The transit agreement between Naftogaz of Ukraine and Russian Gazprom was signed at the end of 2019 for five years. Despite the war, Ukraine allowed Russian gas to pass through its territory to countries such as Austria, Slovakia, Italy, and Hungary.
At the same time, the Ukrainian government has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to extend the transit agreement with Russia.
Read more about the situation with Russian gas transit after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in RBC-Ukraine's article.
