Without Russia: Ukraine imports gas from Azerbaijan via the Trans-Balkan route for the first time
28 July 2025 09:54
Naftogaz Group has signed the first agreement on the purchase of Azerbaijani gas with SOCAR Group company SOCAR Energy Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of Naftogaz, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
As noted, the first test gas supply will be carried out through the Trans-Balkan corridor – gas will go through the route Bulgaria – Romania – Ukrainian border.
“This is a small but strategically important step that paves the way for long-term cooperation. It is also another example of diversifying supply sources and strengthening Ukraine’s energy security,” said Serhiy Koretsky, Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine Sergiy Koretsky, Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine.
The idea of purchasing gas from Azerbaijan was previously discussed at the ministerial level. on July 13, Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko and his Azerbaijani counterpart Parviz Shahbazov held talks on possible supplies. The meeting also discussed the prospect of using Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities by international partners.
At the beginning of the year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Ukraine’s readiness to become a transit country for Azerbaijani gas on its way to Europe.
Earlier, Azerbaijan acted as an intermediary in negotiations on further transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. Now, cooperation between Kyiv and Baku is gaining a new dimension – through direct supplies of a resource that does not depend on Russia.
