A transnational pipeline was shut down on Wednesday after Kyiv refused to renew a prewar agreement that allowed for the transit of Russian gas through its territory.The New York Times reports that a major transnational pipeline was shut down on Wednesday after Ukraine refused to renew an agreement allowing for the transit of Russian gas through its territory. This move has cut off the flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe and is part of a larger effort by Ukraine and its Western allies to limit Moscow’s ability to fund its war efforts and use energy as leverage in Europe.
Ukraine’s energy minister, Herman Galushchenko, called the shutdown a “historic event” and stated that Russia will suffer financial losses as a result. The pipeline, which was built in the Soviet era to transport gas from Siberia to European markets, is Russia’s last major gas corridor to Europe following the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany in 2022 and the closure of a route through Belarus to Poland.
While this move could significantly impact Russia’s gas sales revenue, it also carries risks for Ukraine. Military analysts warn that Moscow may retaliate by bombing Ukraine’s extensive network of pipelines, which it has largely spared from attack in the past three years. This is due to the fact that Russia now has little incentive to leave them unharmed.
Slovakia, one of the European countries most reliant on Russian gas, had also threatened retaliation against Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans earlier this year to shut down the pipeline. The closure of this pipeline could have a significant impact on the region’s energy supply and prices.
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