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End of the gastransit: Russia can no longer rely on Ukraine!
On January 1, 2025, the Russian gastransite ended over Ukraine, which has an important impact on energy supply in the EU.
End of the gastransit: Russia can no longer rely on Ukraine!
With today's key date, the important transit contract for Russian natural gas through Ukraine ends, which results in significant consequences for energy supply in Europe. The loss of this contract, as from Ots reported, has long been announced and means that the gas flow, which has shaped this central transport path so far, stops abruptly. Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler emphasized that Austria was well prepared for this transition, since alternative gas sources such as deliveries from Germany and Italy and the local gas storage were activated. Despite these preparations, there is concern about the future dependence on other energy sources in the region, especially in Hungary and Slovakia, where up to 65 percent of the gas requirement may be affected.
The loss of a living gas market
The closure of the transit path will also influence the economic basis of Ukraine, which must fear an annual loss of around 0.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by the noise transit fees. This was from Bruel mentioned and shows the risk that arises when Russia cannot redirect its gas exports. The loss of income could also destabilize Ukraine and weaken its role as a strategic energy supplier for Europe. In addition, military conflicts in the region could endanger the existing infrastructure, which has so far remained largely undamaged.
In recent years, the gas flow through Ukraine has been particularly crucial, since more than half of the remaining Russian gas exports were handled into the EU via this route. The elimination of the Ukrainian transit could not only put pressure on the LNG market (liquid gas) in Europe, but also influence the price of gas in the entire region. According to Bruegel, the loss of transit Russia could cost up to $ 6.5 billion annually if it failed to use alternative delivery routes. This dynamic shows how important strategic planning is for future energy supply in Europe.