Russia describes selling gas to Europe as “complicated” as an agreement with Ukraine nears expiration | economy

Russia said on Monday that the situation with European countries that buy Russian gas through a transit agreement through Ukraine is very complicated, after talks between President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Vitso.

Ukraine announced that it will not renew the agreement to transit Russian gas to Europe, which has a duration of 5 years and is scheduled to expire at the end of the year, because it does not want to help Moscow in its war effort.

Flows passing through Ukraine represent about half of Russia’s total gas exports via pipelines to Europe. Slovakia, Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic will be most affected if flows stop.

The state company Gazprom also exports gas to Europe via the TurkStream pipeline extending across the bottom of the Black Sea.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he could not provide further details about the talks that took place yesterday, Sunday, between Putin and Viso, which also dealt with bilateral relations and the conflict in Ukraine.

Viso said yesterday, Sunday, that Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to continue supplying gas to Slovakia, even though the Slovak Prime Minister said that this was “practically impossible” once the gas transportation agreement concluded between Russia and Ukraine expires.

It is not yet clear what possible solution the two leaders may have discussed.

Hungary is also keen on maintaining the Ukrainian route, although it will continue to receive Russian gas from the south via the TurkStream pipeline.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week that it was possible to renew the agreement, but on the condition that Russia would not be paid for the gas until after the end of the war, a condition that Moscow is unlikely to accept.

Peskov told reporters, “You heard the statements of the Ukrainian side, and you know the conditions in those European countries that still buy Russian gas and consider it necessary for the normal operation of their economies.”

He added: “Therefore, we are now facing a very complex situation that requires more attention.”

Putin stated last week that it is clear that there will be no new agreement with Ukraine to transport Russian gas through it to Europe.