Ukraine reiterates it will end Russian gas transit on Dec. 31

The Ukrainian government has announced that it will not renew its agreement with Russia regarding the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, with the current contract set to expire on January 1, 2025. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal made the statement on Monday, indicating a clear end to the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine after the deal concludes.

Prime Minister Shmyhal conveyed this decision while communicating through the Telegram messaging app, following a discussion with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. He emphasized Ukraine's openness to facilitating the transit of natural gas from other countries, expressing willingness to engage in talks with the European Commission should they propose the transit of non-Russian gas.

Shmyhal's message underscored Ukraine's readiness to enter into agreements for gas transit from different origins, excluding Russia. "To this effect, if the European Commission officially approaches Ukraine about the transit of any gas other than Russian, we naturally will discuss it and are ready to reach an appropriate agreement," Shmyhal stated.

This move signifies a significant shift in energy transit policies for Ukraine and could have implications for European gas supplies. The current gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia has been a critical route for Russian gas to reach European markets. With this upcoming change, alternative routes and sources may need to be considered by the European Commission and affected countries.

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Source: Investing.com