Russia wants to continue supplying gas to the EU through Ukraine’s gas transport system after the current transit contract expires at the end of the year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Novak said.
“Transit through its territory depends on Ukraine. It depends on their desire. Russia is ready to supply,” Novak added.
At the same time, President Zelenskyy said that our country has no desire to extend the gas contract with Russia because it does not want the aggressor to earn money in Ukraine.
“Alternative steps are now being considered as to how we can use the pipeline. Negotiations are ongoing,” he said.
One of the options is replacing Russian gas with Azerbaijani gas.
Europe’s completion of the transit agreement raises contradicting issues. On the one hand, this is a chance to reduce dependence on Russian gas; on the other hand, some EU countries favor continued supplies. For example, Austria received more than 80% of its gas from Russia in the spring. Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia also heavily depend on Russian gas.