Ukraine will store up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas in its underground storage facilities, which will then be transported to EU countries.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is considering a plan that could help resume gas supplies from Ukraine to Slovakia without having to buy it from Russia.
Politico reports this, citing its own sources.
Under the plan, Ukraine will increase gas imports from Greece and Turkey and store up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas in its underground storage facilities.
These flows would then pass through Slovak pipelines to some other European countries, in particular Hungary.
According to an anonymous European Commission official, this option “would again make Slovakia a transit country.”
At the same time, the European Union will adhere to the “red line” provided for by the REPowerEU bloc's plan, aimed at gradually ending imports from Russia by 2027.
The proposal, first discussed by EU commissioners during a visit to Kyiv last month, is aimed at assuaging Slovakia's anger over the loss of energy revenue following the end of a gas transit deal between Ukraine and Russia in January.
This agreement allowed Slovakia to collect fees for the transit of Russian gas to EU countries – up to 500 million euros per year.
From January 1, 2025, the Ukrainian gas transportation system has completely switched to a regime without transit of Russian gas.
Earlier, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Bratislava would introduce “adequate measures” due to the cessation of gas transit from Russia. In particular, his Smer-SD party will support a reduction in aid to refugees from Ukraine.
Let us recall that President Zelensky stated that Ukraine is ready to transport gas through its territory to Slovakia and other European countries, provided that this gas is not Russian.