Kremlin lambasts Kiev decision not to extend Europe gas contract
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warns that "such a decision by Ukraine will seriously harm the interests of European consumers who still want to buy Russian gas."
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a situation center in the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia on April 14, 2020. (AP)
Kiev's decision not to extend its deal with Gazprom to supply Russian gas to Europe would severely affect European consumers, the Kremlin warned on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that his government will not extend the transit arrangement through Ukraine beyond December 31, saying that "it's over."
Despite the continued fighting, Russia supplied more than 14 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine in 2023, falling short of the contract's target of 40 billion cubic meters.
Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia continue to receive Russian gas in this way, despite the European Union's commitment to eliminate dependency on Russian gas by 2027 in response to the war in Ukraine.
"Such a decision by Ukraine will seriously harm the interests of European consumers who still want to buy Russian gas," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov underlined.
"They will simply have to pay much more, which will make their industry less competitive," he added.
Ukrainian firms signed the five-year contract with Gazprom at the end of 2019.
Last month, Zelensky stated that Ukraine was in contact with Azerbaijan, a significant natural gas producer, to replace Russian gas passing Ukraine.
Since the two do not share a border, Azerbaijani gas would still have to be transferred by pipeline through Russia.
In late July, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the EU and Kiev had sought him to assist in negotiations with Moscow to establish a deal.
