Ukraine has previously stated that it will not renew a deal that is set to expire at the end of the year to transport Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine. Slovakia, one of the gas recipients, has been rushing to extend the agreement.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine could think about continuing to transit Russian gas as long as Moscow doesn’t get payment for the fuel until after the war.
“We would not delay Russian gas transit. At a press conference Thursday during a European Union summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy stated, “We will not allow the possibility of additional billions to be earned on our blood, on the lives of our citizens.”
However, he went on to say: “It’s a possibility if the nation is willing to provide us with gas but not return the funds to Russia until the war is over. We can consider it.
“It’s embarrassing to discuss money.”
According to the European Commission, all nations who get Russian petroleum through the Ukraine route have access to substitute supply when the contract expires.
Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia, has been criticized by Zelenskyy for warning of the economic consequences his country would suffer if it were to lose its inexpensive gas supply from Russia.
“To be honest, during war, it’s a bit shameful to talk about money, because we are losing people,” Zelenskyy stated.
According to Zelenskyy, he informed Fico that Ukraine would be willing to transport gas from another nation via its infrastructure to Europe, but that it would require guarantees that the gas was not just rebranded Russian fuel.
“We have to know that we will only transit gas if it’s not coming from Russia,” Zelenskyy stated.
