Ukraine does not plan to extend the transit contract with russian gazprom after 31 December 2024.

“I can confirm that we do not plan to conclude any additional agreements or prolong this agreement,” said Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko on the air of the national telethon.

The Energy Minister emphasised that last year a stress test of the Ukrainian gas transmission system and underground gas storage facilities was conducted, which proved that the system could function without transit.

German Galushchenko also recalled the statement by European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson that the EU was not interested in extending the transit contract with russia.

“There is an EU initiative called RepowerEU, which stipulates that by 2027, European countries will completely get rid of russian gas, not only pipeline gas, but all gas, including LNG,” the Minister added.

He noted that there were plenty of alternatives to russian gas on the market today. A number of European countries have already followed this path, including Germany, which has reduced its dependence on russian gas to almost zero in a year and a half.

German Galushchenko added that Ukraine was also actively strengthening its energy security and independence, in particular by increasing domestic gas production.