Russia EU strengthens Ukraine in gas transit dispute with Slovakia
The European Commission is backing Kiev in the gas transit dispute between Ukraine and EU member Slovakia.
31.12.2024, 05:17
SDA
A Commission spokeswoman in Brussels made it clear that the EU was prepared for a halt to the transit of Russian gas through the war-torn country; the European gas infrastructure was flexible enough to supply gas of non-Russian origin to Central and Eastern Europe via alternative routes. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Ukraine of further support in its defensive struggle against Russia.
Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for almost three years, will stop the transit of Russian gas at the beginning of the year. A corresponding transit contract expires and Kiev had announced long in advance that it would not renew it. The halt in transit poses problems for Slovakia in the EU, as well as for non-member Moldova. The Slovakian head of government, Robert Fico, threatened Ukraine on Friday that his country could stop the supply of electricity in return.
On Sunday, Fico wrote in a letter to the EU Commission that the "tacit acceptance of the unilateral decision" by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cut off the transit of Russian gas was wrong and irrational and would lead to "increased tensions and mutual measures". In his opinion, the interruption of gas transportation would harm the EU more than Russia.
The EU Commission spokesperson said: "The impact of the end of transit via Ukraine on the EU's security of supply is limited." The authority has been working in coordination with the member states for more than a year to prepare for a scenario without the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine and to secure alternative supplies for the affected member states. Europe's gas infrastructure has been strengthened by significant import capacities of liquefied natural gas (LNG), among other things.
Scholz assures citizens that he will continue to support Ukraine
In his New Year's address, Chancellor Scholz said, according to the text of the speech that had been circulated in advance, that many in Germany were looking at Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine with a feeling of growing trepidation. "I assure you that we will not leave Ukraine alone and will continue to support it like no one else in Europe - and that we will continue to keep a cool head so that the war does not spread."
Selenskyj: US aid strengthens the front
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the recent billions in US aid. "This will strengthen the front in the near future, help us to fend off Russian attacks and support Ukraine in saving lives," he said in his evening video address. This support comes at a critical time, as Russia is intensifying its attacks, even involving North Korean soldiers and continuing to receive weapons from North Korea and Iran.
Shortly before the end of the year, the outgoing US administration of President Joe Biden pledged billions in aid to Ukraine. The President himself announced military aid worth almost 2.5 billion US dollars (2.36 billion euros). This includes weapons and ammunition worth 1.25 billion US dollars for the Ukrainian military as well as a further 1.22 billion US dollars in security aid.
In addition, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that she would pay Ukraine 3.4 billion US dollars (3.27 billion euros) in budget support. The sums announced by Biden and Yellen are funds that have already been released by the US Congress.
In addition, the disbursement of a USD 15 billion US loan to Ukraine began as part of a large aid package from the Group of Seven (G7). This was agreed between the World Bank as the administrator of the money and the Ministry of Finance in Kiev, announced Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The money is to be used for social and humanitarian purposes. To Moscow's annoyance, the sum is secured by interest income on Russian state assets, which are frozen in the West.
The USA is Ukraine's biggest supporter in its defensive struggle against Russia. It is uncertain what course Biden's successor in office, Donald Trump, who will be sworn in as the 47th US president on January 20, will take.
In 2024, war-torn Ukraine received almost 40 billion euros in foreign financial aid to support its budget. This figure was announced by the Ministry of Finance in Kiev on the penultimate day of the year. Around 30 percent of the aid was granted as a grant, the rest as loans on favorable terms. "In 2024, we were able to cover all priority social and humanitarian expenses," said Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko.
Prisoner exchange and attacks
Shortly before the New Year, Russia and Ukraine once again exchanged prisoners of war. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, this involved 150 prisoners each. Selenskyi, on the other hand, announced that 189 Ukrainians had been brought home. Both sides thanked the United Arab Emirates for their mediation.
According to the authorities, the small Russian town of Lgov in the Kursk border region was shelled by the Ukrainian army for the second time in just a few days. The regional administration denied any major damage. However, videos from the city showed fires and suggested that there were indeed hits. According to unofficial Ukrainian sources, Lgov is being used by Russian troops as a deployment area to drive Ukrainian soldiers out of their bridgehead in the Kursk region.
Tuesday night began for Ukraine with an air alert in several areas because Russian combat drones were detected in the sky. "Stay in shelters!" warned the mayor of the capital Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, on his telegram channel. At the same time, pro-Ukrainian telegram channels reported explosions near the naval port of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia. The occupation administration confirmed that the air defense was fighting Ukrainian drones.
According to the local governor, Vasily Anokhin, there was a fire at an oil depot in the Smolensk region to the west of Moscow. According to preliminary information, wreckage from a drone had fallen onto the site, Anokhin wrote on his Telegram channel. This caused fuel to leak and fuel and lubricants to ignite. There was no danger to residential buildings.
