Russia-Ukraine rule out renewing key gas transit deal for Europe

Russia and Ukraine have both ruled out renewing a key gas transit deal for Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Kyiv has refused to extend the five-year agreement to transport Russian gas across Ukraine beyond its expiry at the end of this month. In a statement in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also indicated that Kyiv will not transit Russian gas. During his annual press conference, President Putin confirmed that there will be no such contract, it is clear now.

Earlier, European Union leaders



met with President Zelensky, with gas transit being a key topic of discussion. Countries, led by major gas buyer Slovakia, have recently intensified efforts to find a solution to ensure that gas flows from the east continue next year.

However, the issue presents a challenge for consumers such as Slovakia, who are working to negotiate a deal that would be acceptable to Ukraine, which has repeatedly refused to continue transporting Russian gas, aiming to limit the Kremlin’s revenues.