Transit of Russian gas: the Ministry of Energy made a statement
18 March 2024 10:22
Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko said during a national TV marathon that Ukraine has no plans to extend the agreement with Russia on gas transit to Europe after 31 December 2024, Komersant ukrainskyi reports 
Galushchenko noted that Ukraine does not plan to conclude any additional agreements or extend the current agreement.
According to him, Ukraine is currently moving towards abandoning transit and has conducted a stress test of the Ukrainian gas transmission system and underground gas storage facilities. The tests showed that the system can function without transit.
In addition, Galushchenko added that the European Union also plans to abandon Russian gas by 2027, including both pipeline and liquefied gas.
He noted that some EU countries have managed to reduce their critical dependence on Russian energy resources within a year and a half:
“Germany was the main consumer of Russian gas, but now it hardly uses it. Everyone understands that Russian energy resources are not necessary in the European market.”
Europe and gas
As of the beginning of 2022, the EU was 40% dependent on Russian gas. In 2021, 65% of the gas purchased by Germany was Russian. In the third quarter of 2023, only 12% of the gas imported by the EU remains Russian.
The current contract for gas supplies to Europe through the Ukrainian gas transmission system expires in December 2024. Both sides have made it clear that they are not going to extend it.
At the same time, some EU countries remain dependent on Russian gas, such as Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. These countries’ contracts with Gazprom provide for gas supplies through the Ukrainian gas transmission system. For example, Austria signed a contract for gas supplies until 2040.
After both Nord Stream and the Ukrainian GTS are shut down, Russia will be able to supply gas to Europe only through the Turkish Stream.
