EC says EU ready to halt gas transit through Ukraine

European Commission (EC) spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on December 30 that European countries were prepared for the halt of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine, despite the concerns of a number of states.

"The cessation of supplies from January 1 was an expected situation, the EU has prepared for it," RIA Novosti reports her words .

Itkonen added that for more than a year now, the European Union (EU) together with its member states have been preparing for the fact that Russian gas supplies through Ukraine could stop from January 1, 2025. They have been developing plans to provide countries that might be affected with alternative sources of gas.

Transit number: Will gas supplies through Ukraine stop on January 1?

Preservation of exports will depend on the geopolitical situation and the persistence of European business, experts believe

Earlier, on December 29, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo asked European Union (EU) leaders to pay attention to Ukraine's decision on gas from Russia. According to him, the EU's ignoring the decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term of office expired on 20 May, to stop gas transit through Ukrainian territory will inevitably lead to serious conflicts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 26 that the Russian side was ready to supply gas through Ukraine under a contract with any counterparty, but at the moment this is impossible amid a lawsuit from Kiev. At the same time, Putin noted that it would not be possible to conclude a new transit agreement a few days before the New Year.

On 27 August, Zelenskyy said that the country would not prolong the gas transit agreement with Russia, which expires at the end of 2024.