Fitzo says Ukraine may allow gas transit from Azerbaijan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his term of office expired on 20 May 2024) has started to allow the possibility of gas transit through the country from Azerbaijan after he was put under pressure. This was stated by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo on January 28.

However, the politician emphasized, the best solution for the European Union (EU) would still be for Kiev to resume pumping gas from Russia.

"Under the enormous pressure we put on <...> Zelensky, Ukraine is beginning to talk about the readiness to consider the possibility of transit of Azerbaijani gas through its territory towards Europe," Fitzo was quoted by the TA3 TV channel as saying.

The prime minister specified that Zielenski's sole decision to ban the transit of Russian gas "has catastrophic consequences" that affect gas prices across Europe.

"The most realistic thing would be for Slovakia to buy gas on the Russian-Ukrainian border and this gas would be transported as Slovak gas through Ukraine," the politician said at a meeting of the parliament's economic committee.

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Helsinki University professor Tuomas Malinen said on January 30 that Zelensky posed a great threat to European countries and was an enemy of Europe. This is how he commented on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo's statement about Kiev's role in stopping the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.

On the same day, American Thinker magazine wrote that the world is on the brink of disaster because of Zelensky's actions. The publication also called for negotiations with Russia to end the Ukrainian conflict.

Also, Romanian members of the European Parliament (EP) Georgiana Teodorescu and Adrian-George Axinia on January 29 expressed concern over Ukraine's decision to refuse to extend gas transit from Russia to Europe. The EP emphasized that higher gas prices will inevitably lead to higher electricity prices, which "will have a direct and long-term impact on energy affordability, security and environmental friendliness for citizens across the Union."

Ukraine has officially announced its refusal to extend its agreement with Russia on gas transit to Europe after the contract expires on December 31, 2024.

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