Termination of gas transit to the EU may turn the Ukrainian GTS into a target — Bloomberg

The future of Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe is at a turning point. If the last-minute deal is not concluded by Wednesday, December 31, the gas supply may stop. This is reported by Bloomberg.

"Ukraine is under increasing pressure from the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico and a group of companies from Central Europe, who demand the continuation of gas supplies from its eastern border with Russia to buyers from the European Union after the expiration of the transit agreement on December 31 ... Budapest and Bratislava are still dependent on cheap gas from PJSC Gazprom“ what undermines the aspiration The EU will reduce its dependence on Russian energy carriers," the article says.

Three days before the expiration of the Russian-Ukrainian agreement, rhetoric from all sides has become tougher. The head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, this week accused Fico of concluding shadow agreements with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Slovak leader yesterday threatened to stop supplying electricity to Ukraine.

Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he will not allow the transit of Russian gas, which is beneficial to the Kremlin, through Ukraine after the expiration of the current deal. He stressed that he would be open to transporting gas from countries other than Russia — an option that, according to informed sources, is not entirely ruled out.

"When making a decision, the Ukrainian leader should take into account the need to protect 38.6 thousand kilometers of the country's gas pipeline system. This network, one of the largest in the world, has escaped attacks over the past three years as Russian gas has passed through it," the article says.

If gas transit stops, the GTS may become a target, as happened with gas storage facilities and the power grid, the agency notes. In addition, it will create technical problems that will make it difficult to heat houses throughout Ukraine in winter.

"The issue of risks to the Ukrainian infrastructure is reflected in diplomatic discussions. This may turn out to be a lifeline for Zelensky if he decides to allow the continuation of transit," said a senior researcher at the CEPS analytical center in Christian Egenhofer in Brussels.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that negotiations were continuing and a last-minute deal could not be completely ruled out, the agency said.