The Russian solution of "selling gas first, receiving money later" was proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on December 19 at a press conference at the European Union summit in Brussels.
"We will not extend the transit of Russian gas. We will not create opportunities to earn billions of dollars more from the blood, from the lives of our citizens" - Reuters quoted Mr. Zelensky.
"If a country is ready to deliver gas to us but not pay Russia until the fighting ends, then this can be done. We can think about it," the Ukrainian leader added.
Ukraine has previously ruled out extending the contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe, which expires at the end of this year.
The European Commission said it was ready to deal with the end of the Russian gas transit contract via Ukraine and that all EU countries receiving Russian gas via Ukraine had access to alternative supplies.
Slovakia - one of the recipients of Russian gas - is racing to extend the deal. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned of the economic impact the country would face if it loses cheap Russian gas.
According to Euronews, Slovakia is in contact with both the Ukrainian government and the European Commission to find a solution before the transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia's Gazprom ends.
“We are holding very intense negotiations at the international level on gas supplies in 2025,” Prime Minister Fico said last week.
Mr. Zelensky said he had a conversation with Mr. Fico on December 19 about Ukraine's readiness to transport gas from another country to Europe, but needed to ensure that it was not Russian gas disguised as another source.
“We will only transport it if the gas does not come from Russia,” Mr. Zelensky said.
The suspension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine could also affect Austria and Hungary, but to a different extent. In early December, Austria’s OMV terminated its contract with Russia’s Gazprom.
