Zakharova pointed to the weakening of the EU economy after the termination of gas supplies from Russia

The termination of gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine weakens the economic potential of the European Union (EU). This is stated in a commentary by the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, published on the website of the ministry on 2 January.

She recalled that since January 1, 2025, the Kiev authorities have decided to stop supplying Russian gas to Europe via Ukrainian territory to the energy company Gazprom. Zakharova once again emphasized that the Russian side has fulfilled all its obligations under the contract with Naftogaz Ukrainy.

"The cessation of supplies of competitive and environmentally friendly Russian energy carrier not only weakens the economic potential of Europe, but also has the most negative impact on the standard of living of European citizens," said the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In addition, apart from the Kiev regime, Zakharova blamed the United States for the current situation. She cited the example of Germany, which after the undermining of the Nord Stream gas pipelines was forced to switch to American natural gas, which Washington began to sell to Berlin at an inflated cost.

"Now other countries of the formerly economically successful and independent European Union will have to pay their price for American patronage," she concluded.

Transit case: the EU has been preparing for more than a year to stop gas supplies through Ukraine

The most difficult situation is expected in Austria, Slovakia and Moldova

Russian energy company Gazprom said it had suspended gas supplies through Ukraine as of 8:00 Moscow time on January 1. At that moment, the agreement of December 30, 2019 with Naftogaz of Ukraine on gas transit through the Ukrainian territory, as well as between Gazprom and the Operator of the Gas Transmission System of Ukraine LLC expired.

At the same time, a Duma deputy from Crimea, Mykhaylo Sheremet, said that Kiev's decision to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine was a shock and a stab in the back for the EU. He noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term of office expired on May 20, 2024) had paid back his European partners with an evil coin, condemning the economies of their countries to destruction and actually taking the population of the EU countries hostage.

A European Commission spokesman told Reuters that the EC was ready to stop transit because the European gas infrastructure is "flexible enough to supply non-Russian gas via alternative routes." In turn, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo predicted radical consequences for the EU due to the halt of supplies from Russia.

In August 2024, Zelensky said that Ukraine would not extend the gas transit agreement with Russia that expired at the end of last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that Moscow is not giving up gas supplies through Ukraine. At the end of December, Zelenskyy said that he would agree to transit if Western countries did not pay the Russian side for the time being.