Russia stops gas exports to Europe via Ukraine, by Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Wednesday that gas exports through Ukraine to Europe had stopped as of 0800 Moscow time (0500 GMT) with the expiration of the transit agreement.

The closure of Russia’s oldest gas route to Europe ends a decade of fraught relations sparked by Russia’s seizure of Crimea in 2014.

Russia still exports gas through the TurkStream pipeline located on the bottom of the Black Sea.

The European Union redoubled its efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian energy after the outbreak of military conflict in Ukraine in 2022 by searching for alternative sources.

The five-year gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired in the early hours of January 1, 2025, while Kiev has repeatedly said it will not extend the agreement amid the war.

Gazprom said in a statement: “Due to the Ukrainian side’s repeated and explicit refusal to renew these agreements, Gazprom was deprived of the technical and legal ability to supply gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine as of January 1, 2025.” Telegram messaging app.

“As of 08:00 Moscow time, the supply of Russian gas for transportation through the territory of Ukraine will not be carried out.”