FT has learned about the EU's discussion of a possible return to gas purchases from Russia

The European Union (EU) is discussing the resumption of gas supplies from Russia as part of the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. This was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times (FT) on 30 January.

According to the newspaper, the idea was supported by some officials from Germany, Hungary and other countries. Those in favor of the resumption of gas supplies from Russia believe that this will help to comply with a possible agreement on the cessation of hostilities by Russia and Ukraine.

"At the end of the day, everyone wants to reduce the cost of buying energy," the FT reports one European official as saying.

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Earlier, on January 27, the Italian publication L'AntiDiplomatico reported that the European Union was facing rising costs due to the refusal of Russian gas. According to the publication, Ukraine's decision to stop gas transit from Russia to Europe provoked a new energy crisis.

On the same day, the head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas officially confirmed the extension of anti-Russian sanctions by six months. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó added that the European Commission had given the country guarantees to "preserve the protection of oil supplies to the EU", which is a security issue for the entire European Union.

On January 1, 2025, Gazprom said it would suspend gas supplies through Ukraine. On the same day, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo noted that this would have drastic consequences for the EU, but not for Russia.

At the end of August 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term expired in May 2024) said that the country would not extend the gas transit agreement with Russia, which expired at the end of 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin later pointed out that Moscow did not refuse to transit gas through Ukraine.