MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian energy giant Gazprom ( MCX: ) said on Wednesday that gas exports via Ukraine to Europe had been halted since 08:00 Moscow time (0500 GMT) as a transit contract expired.
Russia’s closure of an ancient gas route to Europe ends a decade of strained relations stemming from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Russia continues to export gas through the Turkish Stream pipeline on the bottom of the Black Sea.
The European Union has redoubled its efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy by seeking alternative sources after the start of the military conflict in Ukraine in 2022.
A five-year gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine is due to expire on January 1, 2025, while Kiev has repeatedly said it will not extend the agreement amid the war.
“Due to the repeated and clearly expressed refusal of the Ukrainian side to renew these agreements, Gazprom was deprived of the technical and legal ability to supply gas for transit on the territory of Ukraine from January 1, 2025,” Gazprom said in a statement. Telegram messaging app.
From 08:00 Moscow time, the supply of Russian gas for its transportation through the territory of Ukraine is not carried out.