Ukraine will stop transiting Russian gas to Europe on January 1 next year in connection with the expiration of a five-year contract.
The head of the Ukrainian government, Denys Shmyhal, announced this on December 21, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada.
The statement by the Ukrainian Prime Minister is quoted by TASS .
What Shmyhal said about stopping Russian oil transit
The Ukrainian Prime Minister reminded that the transit agreement expires on January 1.
At 7 a.m., transit will be physically blocked in connection with the completion of this agreement, Shmyhal said.
The resumption of transit, the head of the Ukrainian government specified, will be possible at the request of the European Commission, if it is not Russian gas.
As for oil transit, according to Shmyhal, Ukraine is forced to continue it in accordance with the European Energy Charter.
In February 2022, Ukraine banned all trade operations with Russia, except for the transit of oil and gas.
The transit contract between the Ukrainian company Naftogaz and the Russian Gazprom was concluded at the end of 2019 for 5 years.
In connection with the upcoming termination of transit in Moldova and Transnistria, a state of emergency was introduced last week.
As stated by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, negotiations with Kiev on continuing deliveries have not yielded results.
On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there will definitely not be a new transit contract with Ukraine, but Russia and Gazprom will survive this.
The Russian president noted that it was Kyiv that refused to renew the contract, although it was receiving 700-800 million dollars a year for it.
