EU predicts serious consequences due to termination of gas transit through Ukraine

The cessation of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to Western Europe will lead to a significant rise in gas prices already this month, a member of the Berlin Chamber of Deputies, Gunnar Lindemann, told Izvestia on January 9.

"First of all, it will hit the poorest people in Germany, Austria and other Western European countries, who may not be able to pay such high gas bills. As a result, people risk being left in their houses and apartments without heating in winter," he emphasized.

The MP also noted that gas is actively used in industry, and a sharp increase in the cost will lead to further weakening in this sector of the economy. More and more enterprises will close or move production outside Europe, which will lead to an increase in unemployment and economic hardship for the population.

In turn, former Slovak Prime Minister Jan Czarnogurski explained to Izvestia that if European countries have to buy more expensive gas, such as American gas, the competitiveness of Europe's industry in relation to the United States and possibly Asian countries will be further reduced.

"This means that European countries will continue to undergo economic decline," he explained.

In addition, stopping transit will also have very serious consequences for Slovakia, as the country has been receiving Russian energy resources only through Ukraine and most of Slovak industry uses gas from Russia.

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

Earlier, on January 1, Gazprom announced the suspension of gas supplies through Ukraine due to the fact that the agreement of December 30, 2019 between the Russian energy company and Naftogaz of Ukraine on transit, as well as between the Russian supplier and the Operator of the Gas Transmission System of Ukraine LLC, expired.

At the end of August 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers expired back on May 20, said that the country would not extend the gas transit agreement with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin later stressed that Russia was not giving up gas transit through Ukraine.