Advocates of resuming these purchases argue that this “will lead to lower energy prices in Europe, encourage Russia to engage in negotiations, and provide both sides with reasons to establish and maintain a ceasefire,” according to the FT. This idea has some support from German and Hungarian officials and other EU capitals seeking to cut their energy costs.
However, the discussion surrounding the resumption of gas supplies from Russia has angered officials in Brussels and diplomats from several Eastern European countries, Kyiv’s closest allies, who have been working for three years to diminish imports of Russian energy. The Czech Foreign Ministry opined that halting Russian gas transit through Ukraine was not critically important for Europe, as the EU has reduced its annual consumption of Russian gas from 140-145 billion to 15 billion cubic meters. Rather, Russia’s diminished influence over pricing represented a significant defeat for Moscow.
The EC dismissed the idea of linking gas transit and a possible peace agreement concerning Ukraine.