The decision by the Ukrainian authorities not to extend the contract for the delivery of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine after 31 December “will seriously damage the interests of European consumers who still wish to buy Russian gas”, warned the Kremlin on Wednesday 28 August, quoted the same day by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
This contract between the Ukrainian companies Naftogaz and GTSOU and Gazprom, signed in 2019 for a period of five years, expires at the end of the year.
In total, Russia has delivered 14 billion cubic metres of gas to Europe in 2023 (benefiting Austria, Hungary and Slovakia in particular) via Ukraine, less than the 40 billion cubic metres planned.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov said that Ukraine’s decision would hurt European consumers, who “will simply have to pay much more, which will make their industry less competitive”.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that his country was in discussions with Azerbaijan to replace Russian gas transiting through Ukraine on its way to Europe.
Nevertheless, Azerbaijani gas should continue to be transported by pipeline via Russia. Discussions are said to be underway between the EU, Kyiv and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to “facilitate” talks with Moscow, as reported by AFP. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)