Russia is set to completely halt its natural gas transit to Europe through Ukraine as of January 1, 2025, according to Ukrainian officials and energy news outlets. This comes after years of reduced volumes, with flows decreasing from 117 billion cubic meters in 2008 to just 14.65 billion in 2023.
Ukraine’s military has taken control of the only active metering station in Russia’s pipelines, located on Moscow’s side of the border, during its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August. The Ukrainian military is prioritizing holding onto this territory, where it has stationed elite units like the 95th and 80th airborne assault brigades.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are advancing in the Donbass region, facing challenges from Ukraine’s manpower and ammunition shortages. The situation highlights the growing tensions between Russia and Europe over energy supplies.
The EU has maintained that alternative supply sources can fill the gap left by the shutdown of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. However, concerns remain about the viability of accepting a complete cut-off of Russian supplies, with some exploring the possibility of new deals with Moscow.
The US has been working to increase its own energy exports to Europe, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), which now accounts for about 40% of EU imports. A deal between Russia and an EU company could potentially restart gas flow through Ukraine, but would require careful diplomatic handling to satisfy all parties involved.
Source: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/11/21/xrcx-n21.html