Ukraine continues to consume Russian gas and receive money for its transit to Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the summing up of the year in the format of a combined straight line and final press conference.
The President noted that Gazprom continues to supply European countries under contractual obligations, including deliveries through the territory of Ukraine, and the fact that Europe is not receiving enough gas is “their problem.”
“Of course, Ukraine receives for transit; it’s as if we don’t supply to Ukraine. In fact, they consume our gas, by the way, and do you know how the gas network has been set up there since Soviet times? There is an entrance, like a main gas pipeline, that goes to Europe. In fact, as soon as our gas entered the territory of Ukraine, it immediately dispersed throughout the country, spreading,” he said.
At the same time, the accumulated reserves in Ukrainian storage facilities are supplied to European countries, thus fulfilling obligations to the consumer, the president added.
Gas transit from Russia to the EU via the gas transportation system (GTS) of Ukraine fell sharply in May 2022, when Kiev refused to accept applications for pumping fuel through the Sokhranovka gas metering station (GIS) in the Rostov region, from where gas flows into the territory of the LPR. Since then, transportation has been carried out only through the Sudzha GIS in the Kursk region, from where the fuel goes to the gas transportation system in the Sumy region controlled by Ukraine.
At the beginning of May 2022, Gazprom supplied 92–99 million cubic meters in transit through Ukraine. m of gas per day, after blocking applications for the Sokhranovka GIS, daily pumping fell by more than half to 41–43 million cubic meters. m.
The throughput capacity of the Ukrainian gas transportation system on the border with Russia is 288 billion cubic meters. m per year. Under the current contract, within the framework of the “pump or pay” condition, Russia must supply 40 billion cubic meters to Europe through Ukraine. m of gas per year (109 million cubic meters per day). The current contract, signed at the end of 2019, expires in 2024.
Source: Vedomosti
