Ukraine Is Not Going to Extend Transit Contract with Russia’s Gazprom

Kiev has no plans to extend the gas transit agreement with Gazprom after 31 December 2024. This was stated by the head of the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, German Galushchenko. “I can confirm that we do not plan to conclude any additional agreements or prolong this one,” he said. According to Galushchenko, a stress test of the Ukrainian gas transmission system and underground gas storage facilities was conducted in 2023. The tests indicated that the system can function without transit. Galushchenko noted that there are now enough alternatives to Russian gas on the market and a number of European countries have already followed this path. For example, Germany has reduced its dependence on Russian gas to almost zero in a year and a half. Earlier, Galushchenko ruled out any commercial agreements that would allow the continued transit of Russian gas through the country after the current agreement expires at the end of 2024.