On January 1, 2025, the Russian gas transit agreement through Ukraine officially expired, marking the end of important gas supplies from Russia to Europe.
According to Viktor Medvedchuk, a former leader of the Ukrainian opposition party and now leader of the "One Ukraine Different" movement, this decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not to serve the interests of the Ukrainian people but to benefit the US.
Speaking in an interview with TASS, Mr. Medvedchuk affirmed: "The US benefits from blocking Russian gas from going to Europe at all costs. And here, Mr Zelensky is not acting for the benefit of Ukraine, but following the direction of the US, forcing Europe to buy gas from the US at double the price of Russian gas".
Under the previous transit agreement, Russia transported 40 billion cubic meters of gas per year through Ukraine. However, with Kiev's refusal to extend the contract, Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom has completely lost the opportunity to supply gas via this gas pipeline.
That has led to a supply cut as early as the morning of January 1, 2025, putting Europe at risk of rising energy prices.
