EU is Ready to Stop Russian Gas Transit via Ukraine from 1 January 2025

Europe is ready to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine from 1 January 2025. This is stated in a written response from a spokesperson for the European Commission to a request from an Ukrinform.

‘The cessation of the flow (of gas) through Ukraine from 1 January is an expected event, and the EU is ready for it,’ the response says.

The spokesperson reminded that the European Commission, in coordination with member states, had been working for more than a year to prepare for a scenario where there would be no Russian gas coming through Ukraine from 1 January 2025 and to provide alternative gas supply routes for member states that could be affected by such a transit interruption.

‘Europe's gas infrastructure is flexible enough to ensure that non-Russian gas supplies to Central and Eastern Europe can be delivered via alternative routes. Since 2022, it has been significantly strengthened by new LNG import capacities,’ the European Commission spokesperson said.

In addition, he said, security of gas supplies to the EU has been significantly improved over the past few years through measures to ensure efficient use of energy and the development of renewable energy sources.

At the same time, the European Commission has not commented on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit to Russia to continue gas supplies. 

In his turn, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, amid Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's threats to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine after his meeting with Russian dictator Putin, instructed government officials to do everything to maintain the stability of the united European energy system.

He heard details about electricity imports from the European Union to Ukraine via Slovakia, which account for about 19% of the total.

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is working with other neighbours in the EU.

‘I have instructed our government officials to do everything together with the European Commission, together with all our partners in Europe, to maintain the stability of the united European energy system and European energy rules,’ Zelenskyy said.

He emphasised: ‘No matter what Putin said to Fico when he was in the Kremlin, European rules should be stronger than the ties of a particular character to Moscow.’