EU prepared for cessation of Russian gas transit via Ukraine from January 1 – Eurean Commission

That’s according to the Eurean Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, who responded to Ukrinform’s enquiry.

"The st of flow via Ukraine on 1 January is the expected situation and the EU is prepared for it. The Commission, in coordination with the Member States, has been working for more than a year specifically on preparing for a scenario without Russian gas transiting via Ukraine as of 1 January 2025 and on ensuring that alternative supplies are available for the impacted Member States," the Eurean Commission said in a statement.

Read also: Ukraine halts Russian gas transit at 7:00, Jan 1, for national security reasons

According to the spokeswoman, the Eurean gas infrastructure is flexible enough to provide gas of non-Russian origin to CEE via alternative routes. It has been reinforced with significant new LNG import capacities since 2022.

“Security of gas supply architecture of the EU has been reinforced in the last couple of years, including with energy efficiency measures and renewables develment,” Anna-Kaisa Itkonen added.

Read also: Heat, hot water supplies shut off in Transnistria amid Russian gas delivery cut

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on December 27, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country would consider actions in response to Ukraine’s suspension of Russian gas transit from January 1, 2025. Among tions on the table, he said, is halting the supply of electricity, which Ukraine desperately needs.

The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine stated they are working on tions for obtaining electricity from other sources.