EU ready as Ukraine halts Russian gas transit
The European Union is prepared to end the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, which will not affect the energy security of the EU, according to the European Commission, as quoted by the Ukrinform agency.
European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Ikonen said that the cessation of gas supplies through Ukraine starting January 1 is an anticipated situation, and the EU is ready for it. The European Commission, in collaboration with member states, has been preparing for this scenario for over a year.
The Commission states that the EU's infrastructure has adequate flexibility to ensure the supply of non-Russian gas to Central and Eastern Europe via alternative routes. “In recent years, the entire architecture of gas supply security to the EU has been strengthened by measures for energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources,” added the spokeswoman.
End of transit through Ukraine
Ukraine has halted the transit of Russian gas for national security reasons. “We have stopped the transit of Russian gas. This is a historic event,” announced Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
“Putin built Nord Stream to bypass Ukraine and blackmail Eastern Europe with the threat of turning off the gas tap, and today it is Ukraine that blocked his ability to export gas directly to the EU,” wrote Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on the X platform.
The stoppage of gas transit through Ukraine might impact Slovakia, which purchased Russian raw materials transported through Ukrainian territory. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened Ukraine with cutting off electricity supplies if Kyiv fulfills its promises and stops the transit of Russian gas to his country starting the New Year. Gazprom reported the halt of gas exports to Europe through Ukraine from 8 AM Moscow time (1 AM Eastern Time) when the transit agreement expired. Eustream, the Slovak pipeline system operator, confirmed the stoppage of Russian gas supplies.
