EC comments on stopping Russian gas transit through Ukraine
The European Commission (EC) was ready to stop supplying Russian gas through Ukraine. This was reported by Reuters on Wednesday, January 1, citing an EC spokesman.
"The European gas infrastructure is flexible enough to supply gas of non-Russian origin to Central and Eastern Europe via alternative routes," the EC representative told the agency.
In turn, the Austrian energy ministry also said that the country was ready to terminate the gas transit agreement, noting that gas supplies continue through other states.
Slovak gas transportation system operator Eustream confirmed the termination, saying it was ready to ensure gas supplies in the country.
"Eustream is ready to provide gas transportation to meet Slovakia's supply needs throughout the territory in accordance with customer nominations. Natural gas transmission continues at all interconnection points in accordance with customer nominations and Eustream is fully prepared to fulfill its obligations and ensure reliable transmission," it said in a statement on its website.
Earlier in the day, Russian energy company Gazprom said it had suspended gas supplies through Ukraine. The company noted that gas transportation stopped from 8:00 Moscow time.
The day before, it was reported that the bid for Russian gas transit through Ukraine on January 1 had dropped to zero.
In late August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term expired in May, said that the country would not extend the gas transit agreement with Russia, which expires at the end of 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin later said that Russia was not giving up gas transit through Ukraine.
Later, on December 20, it was reported that Zelensky said that he had agreed to transit Russian gas through Ukraine if Western countries did not pay Russia for the fuel until the conflict ended.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
