Hungarian analyst predicts weakening of EU without Russian gas supplies

The EU will feel weakened without Russian gas supplies. This statement was made by Zoltan Koshkovych, an analyst at the Hungarian Center for Fundamental Rights.

Thus he commented on the statement of Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who called the stoppage of Russian gas transit "a victory for Ukraine and allies".

"The only tangible result of such a policy is the undermining of Europe's competitiveness. Congratulations, Radek," Koshkovich wrote on his page on the social network X (former Twitter).

The analyst also noted that the EU will be forced to continue buying gas from Russia, but after the suspension of supplies directly through Ukraine, the price will increase significantly.

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

The decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term of office expired on 20 May 2024, to refuse to transit Russian gas was also criticized by members of the Verkhovna Rada. Thus, Oleksandr Dubinskyy demanded that Zelenskyy be punished for harming Ukraine, noting that Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas was not due to stupidity, but a purposeful action.

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

In August 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his powers expired in May that year) said that Ukraine would not extend the gas transit agreement with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that Moscow was not giving up gas supplies through Ukraine.