Five-year agreement has come to an end. For more than 30 years, Ukraine has been instrumental in transporting Russian gas to Europe.
Arrived at fim one historic pact between Ukraine and Russiamore specifically between the Ukrainian transport system natural gas ee Russian company Gazprom.
For more than 30 years, since 1991 (year of independence), Ukraine was essential for the transport of Russian gas to Europe. 2025 has begun and that has changed.
Ukraine suspended today, at 05:00 Lisbon, the transportation of Russian natural gas through its territoryas announced, as part of the end of the contract, the Ukrainian gas operator (GTS) announced.
“At 07:00 [locais, 05:00 em Lisboa] of January 1, 2025, the Interaction Agreement between GTS and Gazprom for physical interconnection points between the gas transmission systems of Ukraine and Russia, dated January 30, has expired”, explained the operator, in communicated.
“Thus, the transportation of natural gas from the entry point of Sudzha, on the eastern border of Ukraine, to the exit points on the western and southern borders has been closed”, says the GTS, stressing that international partners have been informed.
The gas supply contract was a source of multimillion-dollar revenue for Russiawhich allowed the company Gazprom to export to Austriaa Hungary, a Slovakia ea Moldova, but it also meant about 700 million dollars (about 672 million euros) per year for Ukraine.
The decision was explained by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a statement made in Brussels on November 19, when he stated that he refused that the Russia continues to “make millions” while maintaining a policy of aggression towards his country.
A Russia guaranteed, however, that will survive to the closure of the passage of its gas through Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that Gazprom will be able to cope with the loss of product transit through Ukraine, he said at a press conference held on Tuesday.
“We will survive, Gazprom will survive”, he stated, noting, however, that he has always defended the “depoliticization of economic issues” and warning that the fuel prices will increase.
It is worth noting that Russia continues to export natural gas to Europe, through Türkiye. The deal with TurkStream has two transport routes: one for the Turkish domestic market, the other for European countries such as Hungary and Serbia.
Sources of European Commission ensured that the impact of this new situation “will be limited” in supplying the European Union.
For Europe, the loss of cheap Russian gas supplies contributes to a major economic slowdowna rise in inflation and a worsening cost of living crisis, but European countries have been quick to find alternative energy sources.
I and Ukraine will not have major problemsas it has enough gas for internal consumption.
A Gazprom, which was once the largest gas exporter in the world, registered a prejudice of around 6.5 billion euros in 2023, in what was its first profitless year since 1999.
Slovak notices
The biggest complaints are emerging from Slovakia. On Friday, Prime Minister Robert Fico warned: “After January 1 we will consider the situation and the possibilities of reciprocal measures against Ukraine.”
More specifically: “If this becomes inevitable, we will stop the electricity supplywhich Ukraine needs urgently in the event of network cuts, or we will reach an agreement on another type of action”.
This morning, the Prime Minister of Slovakia said that this cut will have a “drastic impact” in your country.
In November, Slovakia signed a contract with Azerbaijan to import natural gas from this Asian country.
