Kiev has offered Azerbaijan and Slovakia an alternative option in the issue of replacing Russian gas transit to Europe, writes ‘RBC-Ukraine’ with reference to sources. The interlocutors of the publication noted that substantially and in detail this issue is not discussed.
The current agreement on the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine expires at the end of 2024. It is valid until 2030, but the EU oil embargo, which now bans oil supplies from Russia by sea and along the northern branch of the Druzhba (to Germany and Poland), with regard to supplies via the southern branch (through Ukraine towards Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic) provides for a postponement of sanctions until a special decision of the EU Council in this regard.
‘The Ukrainian side is no longer talking about transit, but proposes an alternative option, which would not legally be considered transit. The essence of this alternative is that the owner of the gas for a start simply pumps it into storage in UGS (Underground Gas Storage – Editor’s note), and then can use it at its own discretion,’ the RBC-Ukraine publication said.
There is a key condition in this proposal – each party will have to independently agree with Russia on the security of supplies, in fact providing Ukraine’s gas transport system with protection in the conditions of hostilities.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Western ideas of the new world order as hypocrisy. According to him, they are aimed solely at preserving the neo-colonial system, showing their essence in the form of ‘hypocrisy, double standards and claims’.