Ukraine Reiterates Its Intent to Halt Russian Gas Transit by December 31

The Ukrainian government has announced that it will not renew its agreement with Russia regarding the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. The current contract will expire on January 1, 2025. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated on Monday that the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine will definitively cease after the agreement ends.

Prime Minister Shmyhal conveyed this decision via the Telegram messaging application following a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. He emphasized that they remain open to the transit of natural gas from other countries and expressed their readiness for negotiations should the European Commission propose the transit of non-Russian gas.

Shmyhal's message underscored Ukraine's readiness to form agreements for the transit of gas from sources other than Russia. "In this regard, if the European Commission officially approaches Ukraine regarding the transit of any gas other than Russian gas, we will naturally discuss it and are ready to reach an appropriate agreement," he said.

This move signals a significant shift in Ukraine's energy transit policies and could have implications for Europe's gas supply. The existing gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia has been a critical route for Russian gas to reach European markets. With this upcoming change, the European Commission and affected countries may need to evaluate alternative routes and sources.