The Kremlin warned on Wednesday that European consumers could face higher prices if Kyiv does not agree to extend the contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, which is due to expire on December 31st.
Ukraine has repeatedly said that it is not planning a new gas transit contract with Russia. There is also some concern that flows could stop amid fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, where the gas transit point is located.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at the conference that if Kyiv does not extend the deal, Russia could find alternative routes, such as the planned Turkish gas hub.
“There are alternative routes and plans to create a hub in Turkey. This process is ongoing. But, of course, such decisions by the Ukrainian side will cause serious damage to the interests of European consumers, those who still want to buy more affordable Russian gas,” Peskov said.
He also said Europe would have to pay more for gas than other sellers, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied by the United States (U.S.).
In 2022, Russia proposed establishing a gas hub in Turkey to make up for lost sales to Europe, underpinning Ankara’s long-standing desire to function as an intermediary for energy-deficient countries.
The transit contract for the delivery of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine last year still amounted to 15 billion cubic meters (bcm) of the total EU gas consumption of 295 bcm.
Most consumers of Russian gas through Ukraine have announced that they are preparing to stop the flow at the end of this year when the contract expires, given that Ukraine has said it does not want to renew it.
Another option is for Gazprom to deliver part of the gas via another route, such as Turkish Stream, Bulgaria, Serbia or Hungary. However, capacity on these routes is limited, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
