“We are prepared” answers the Commission for the closed gas pivot by Gazprom – For ‘historical event’ says Ukraine

‘ We are prepared” is the message sent by the Commission in the wake of the halting of Russian exports via . Russian Gazprom closed the gas turbine, stopping flows through Ukraine after expiring the five-year contract signed by both sides in late 2019. Kiev had repeatedly stated that it would not prolong the deal while the war lasted. CORVERSE “European gas infrastructure is flexible enough to provide non-Russian gas to central and eastern Europe through alternative routes,” said a representative of the Commission. “It has been strengthened since 2022 with new LNG import capabilities” (liquidated natural gas), he added. Kiev and Moscow confirmed with their separate announcements this very serious development, with Ukraine reporting a historical event. “We stopped transiting Russian gas, this is a historic event. Russia is losing markets, it will suffer financial losses,” said, expressing satisfaction, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galuschenko. ADVERSION “From 8:00 (Moscow time, 07:00 Greek time), the supply of Russian gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine is not taking place,” Gazprom said in its announcement. ‘Due to the repeated and explicitly expressed refusal of the Ukrainian side to renew this agreement, Gazprom has not been able to supply gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine since 1 January 2025’, the Russian ‘giant’ of natural gas in the same communication was supplemented. According to Ukrainian Minister German Galuschenko, “Ukraine informed its international partners” of the interruption, which has been expected for months. “Hundreds of millions cost to us,” Slovakia says In recent weeks, Hungary and Slovakia had protested that the flow would stop on 31 December without any real, direct and reliable alternatives. The interruption of gas transit through Ukraine will have a “active” impact on the countries of the European Union, but not on Russia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Ficho said on his side. The Slovak leader has repeatedly warned that the termination of transit will cost Slovakia hundreds of millions of euros in lost transit revenues and higher costs for importing other gas and has also argued that it will lead to an increase in gas and electricity prices in Europe. Ficho had gone to Moscow on 22 December to try to find a solution to the problem. This surprise visit had provoked the anger of Ukrainian President Volondimir Zelenski, who accused Ficho of wanting “to help Putin”. No more deliveries to Moldova: ‘There is no heating or hot water’ In the meantime, Gazprom is to stop gas deliveries to Moldova from now in the context of an economic dispute. The segregated Moldovan district of Transnistria today cut off the heating and hot water supply to households. “There is no heating nor hot water,” he said by telephone to Reuters from Tiraspol, the largest city in Transnistria, a local energy company worker Tirasteploenergo, adding he does not know how long this situation will last. Transnistria is a pro-Russian entity that split from the rest of Moldova after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Russian gas was supplied through Ukraine, but this supply route was closed today. With a message on her website, the energy company invited residents to dress in warm clothes, families gathering in the same room of the house, hanging blankets or thick curtains from windows and balcony doors and using electric heaters. “We are not dependent on Russia for gas,” replies Austria At the same time, Austria announced that it was ready to end gas transit through Ukraine and that it is now supplying gas from other sources, such as supply points in Germany or Italy, as well as storage facilities. “We did what we had to do and we are well prepared for this scenario,” Austrian Energy Minister Leonore Gevesler said in a statement. “Austria no longer depends on Russia for gas and that is good,” he added.