Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was quoted by a number of news agencies on Saturday as saying that Russia is ready to hold talks with the European Union on natural gas supplies as a transit deal with Ukraine expires at the end of 2024. This comes as a result of the transit deal’s expiration.
In accordance with a 2019 agreement between Moscow and Kiev, Russia pays Ukraine for the use of its pipeline network and exports gas to Europe via Ukraine.
Despite the fact that Russian gas deliveries to Europe have decreased significantly since the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine in February 2022, the arrangement has continued.
The Ukrainian government was quoted as saying earlier this week that Kyiv will not seek negotiations with Moscow regarding the possibility of extending the gas transit agreement.
“We are prepared to discuss if the other party in the EU wishes. According to the RIA news agency, Novak was quoted as saying, “So far we don’t see such a desire.”
Friday, a representative of the European Union stated that the bloc was evaluating all possible outcomes to ensure that it was prepared, but he declined to speculate on whether the Ukraine transit agreement would be extended beyond the end of 2024.
A European push to replace Russian fuel with alternative supplies and renewable energy was sparked by the conflict in Ukraine, which Moscow refers to as a special military operation.
However, Gazprom (GAZP.MM), a gas pipeline export monopoly controlled by the Kremlin, continues to ship gas through Ukraine.
