Denys Schmyhal, Ukrainian Prime Minister, said that a deal to allow the transit of Russian Gas through Ukraine would not be extended past the end of this year as certain European countries intensified their search for supplies.

Shmyhal wrote on Telegram after speaking with Slovak Prime Minster Robert Fico that Ukraine is willing to discuss the transit of gas from any source except Russian.

Shmyhal stated that "to this effect, we will naturally discuss the issue and are prepared to reach a suitable agreement" if the European Commission approaches Ukraine officially about transiting any other gas than Russian.

I stressed that the agreement between Ukraine and Russia for gas transit will end on January 1, 2025, and it won't be extended."

Shmyhal stated that much has already been accomplished in the last year to ensure an adequate supply of energy to EU countries, especially gas.

Ukraine has been saying for months that the contract to transit gas is unlikely to be renewed. This comes after a 33 month war between Ukraine and Russia.

Slovakia and other countries that receive gas transiting through Ukraine via pipelines, from Russia, are currently in discussions to avoid the cessation of those flows when the agreement expires.

Fico said before the two Prime Ministers spoke that the EU was concerned about maintaining the gas transit, not only as a bilateral issue between Ukraine and its neighbours.

Fico stated last week that he wanted to ensure the continued supply of eastern products to avoid paying higher transit fees to other suppliers. Slovakia has an agreement with Russian gas giant Gazprom.

Denisa Sakova, the Slovakian Economy Minister, said in Brussels earlier that European countries had a demand of around 15 billion cubic meters of Russian gas via Ukraine next year and that they were in negotiations to secure new supplies.

The Slovakian government hopes that a gas deal will cover deliveries for at least two to three years. The EU set the target to stop using Russian fossil fuels in 2027.

Moldova, Ukraine's tiny ex-Soviet neighbour to the west, has been in talks with Gazprom about securing supplies. With the expiration of the transit agreement imminent, Moldova is looking at securing Russian Gas through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania.

Ukrainian officials said that talks had also taken place about exploring the possibility of shipping Azerbaijani gas to European countries through Ukraine. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Rosalba o'Brien and Chris Reese)

(source: Reuters)