Tensions rise as Ukraine closes Russian gas transit deal

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico on October 7 that Kiev would not extend a gas transit agreement with Russia when it expires at the end of the year, a move likely to increase tensions between the EU and the member NATO and Ukraine, who aspire to join both organizations.

“Ukraine says once again that it will not continue the transit agreement with Russia after its expiration,” Shmyhal said said a joint press conference with Fico in the border town of Uzhhorod in western Ukraine on October 7.

“Ukraine’s strategic goal is to deprive the Kremlin of profits from the sale of hydrocarbons that the aggressor uses to finance the war,” he said.

Shmyhal said Kiev understood the “acute dependence” of some states, including Slovakia, on Russian gas supplies, but said the eventual diversification of supply deliveries would overcome such problems.

Shmyhal also said that Ukraine and Slovakia — which share a border of about 100 kilometers — have agreed to establish a Eastern European energy hub using the resources of major gas storage facilities in Ukraine.

Fico praised Kiev’s continued commitment to use its transit systems after the expiration of the agreement with Russia.

“I welcome our discussion which confirmed that you, like us, have an interest in the transit system you have on Ukrainian territory to continue to be used, both for oil and gas,” he said Fico.

Slovakia, under Russian leadership, Fico, and Ukraine have faced the transit of Russian oil and gas, the export of which is a major source of financing for Russia, which has been struggling under the weight of Western sanctions ever since. -full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

At the time Moscow launched its invasion, the EU was heavily dependent on Russia for gas, but has since sought alternative supplies. Most EU countries have boycotted the import of Russian oil and gas, with the exception of a few, including Hungary and Slovakia.

A deal has reportedly been struck to continue transiting Russian oil through Ukraine, but gas supplies will be severely restricted should Kiev follow through on its promise to end transit services in early 2025.

Russian gas deliveries to Europe via pipelines are currently limited to two routes: the first through the European part of TurkStream, a joint Gazprom-Turkish project that transports gas from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea and then to Central and South-Eastern Europe; the second through Ukraine through the Sudzha entry point on the border with Russia.

Russia’s current contract with Ukraine is set to expire at the end of 2024.

Aside from the fuel dispute, Fico has maintained his strong opposition to Ukraine’s possible entry into NATO, while also saying he supports Kiev’s bid to join the European Union.

Fico, along with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban — seen by many as friendly to Russia — have opposed Western military aid to Ukraine and pushed for peace deals unacceptable to Kiev.

“Slovakia is interested in the restoration of Ukraine and good neighborly relations. We understand that this peace should be of high quality and lasting for you. You need to have security guarantees and we understand that. We will support all initiatives to achieve this. objective,” said Fico.

“We will not put obstacles in the way of Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” Fico said, quoted by Sigh news portal.

“There will be countries that will be against Ukraine quickly becoming a member of the European Union. I say this openly and clearly. We want to give you our admission experience. This experience is interesting and valuable. We are quite cold about Ukraine’s membership . in NATO, but we will participate in all the conferences”, said Fico.

Before their meeting, Fico was quoted as saying of NATO membership: “It would only create a basis for World War III. Because you know what can happen: once Ukraine is a NATO member and a conflict similar to the current one breaks out, it will count as an attack on a NATO member state and some extremely dangerous mechanisms can be triggered.”

Fico said that his country is “preparing a new financial assistance package for Ukraine. The Slovak government is also ready to offer a military aid package, but it will be a non-lethal weapon.”

Via RFE/RL

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