Ukraine halts Russian gas transit to Europe citing national security, cutting off a major supply route amid ongoing conflict.
Ukraine ceased Russian gas supplies to Europe on Wednesday after a prewar transit agreement expired at the end of 2024.
Despite the ongoing war initiated by Russia in February 2022, gas had continued to flow through Ukraine’s pipeline network under a five-year deal.
This arrangement allowed Russia’s Gazprom to profit while Ukraine received transit fees.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko stated that the halt was made “in the interest of national security,” marking a significant shift in the energy landscape.
Halushchenko highlighted that this move would lead to financial losses for Russia as Europe works to eliminate its dependency on Russian gas.
During a recent summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his commitment to preventing Russia from profiting from the conflict, while leaving the door open for future negotiations regarding gas flows.
Gazprom responded by stating it lacks the technical means to transport gas through Ukraine due to the refusal to extend the transit deal.
Prior to the war, Russian gas accounted for nearly 40% of the European Union’s pipeline supply, transported through various routes including Ukraine.
Since the invasion, Russia has reduced supplies via the Baltic and Belarus-Poland pipelines, leading to an energy crisis across Europe.
