Ukraine has stated that it is ready to take Hungary's place in the European Union

If Hungary decides to give preference to the Russian side and vacate its place in the EU, Ukraine is ready to take it, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"If the Hungarian side gives priority to strengthening Russia instead of the EU and the US, it should openly admit this. Ukraine will be ready to fill any vacant place in the EU and NATO if Hungary decides to vacate it in favor of membership in the CIS or the CSTO," the statement said.

This is how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reacted to the "manipulative" statements of the Hungarian leadership in connection with the termination of gas supplies to Europe through Ukrainian territory. Budapest noted that Kiev, by its decision, created a "difficult situation for the European economy," and recalled the requirement included in the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU for Kiev to maintain energy supply routes.

Transit stopped on the morning of January 1 — with the expiration of the five-year term of the agreement between Gazprom and Naftogaz. The Russian company reported that it was deprived of the "technical and legal opportunity" to supply gas "due to the repeated and explicit refusal of the Ukrainian side to extend these agreements." The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine called the transit stop a "historic event."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that the main beneficiary of stopping the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe is the United States.

On January 1, the European Commission announced that "due to effective preparatory work and coordination in the region and beyond, there are no problems with the security of gas supplies" against the background of the termination of transit. However, Hungary, as well as Slovakia, announced difficulties (its Prime Minister Robert Fico even came to Russia in December to discuss the gas issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin).

Energy problems are also experienced by non-EU Moldova and Transnistria. Chisinau decided to import electricity to cover the deficit, including from Romania and from Ukraine. On January 8, Pridnestrovie announced that there would be enough gas reserves in the republic for the daily needs of residents for 24 days. There are problems with heating and electricity due to the cessation of supplies, reminds RBC.