Putin: Gazprom ready to fulfil obligations despite Ukraine’s transit refusal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the prospects for Russian gas supplies through Ukraine to Europe depend on European buyers who are focused on financial and military assistance to Ukraine.

In 2024, Gazprom's long-term contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine expires, and Kyiv has stated its unwillingness to extend it, Putin said at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"As for Ukraine, we are not giving up this transit, oddly enough. Because we and Gazprom intend to fulfill all our obligations to our clients with whom we have long-term contracts. But one of the mandatory components of this joint work is transit. There is a transit contract that expires on December 31 of this year. But if Ukraine refuses this transit, well, we cannot force them," the Russian president said.

"And our main consumers in Europe, apparently, do not want to do this. Although they provide Ukraine with comprehensive assistance, support, both military and financial, and any other," he recalled.

The President added that Russia, against the backdrop of Europe's position, will gradually increase supplies to other regions of the world. Putin is confident that the volume of Russian gas exports will gradually recover.

"Ukraine is refusing our transit, which means that the volumes of gas that go to Europe will decrease. They will go via other routes, in particular, via the Turkish Stream, and maybe partly via the Blue Stream. How this will affect them (Europe) - I do not know for sure, we are dealing with our own issues, and let them deal with theirs. Well, if they do not want to - no need. We will increase our supplies to other regions of the world. Gradually. We have a good project with China before any crises. Next year we will reach the design capacity of 38 billion cubic meters; another 10 billion cubic metres from the Far East; we are studying other routes," Putin reminded.