ISTANBUL – Russia has placed the blame on the West, particularly the US and certain European governments, as well as Kyiv, for the recent halt in Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine.
The move came after a five-year gas transit deal between Moscow and Kyiv expired on Wednesday, with Ukraine refusing to extend the agreement amidst the ongoing war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine will not allow Russia to “earn additional billions” from the gas transit during the conflict.
Russian officials have expressed frustration, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Ukraine of abandoning the deal despite Gazprom meeting its obligations. She argued that halting the flow of Russian gas harms Europe’s economy and lowers the quality of life for its citizens.
Zakharova pointed to the geopolitical motivations behind Ukraine’s refusal, claiming that the US is the primary beneficiary of the shift in Europe’s energy market and the main sponsor of the Ukrainian crisis. She highlighted that Germany has already faced severe economic consequences, purchasing more expensive gas after the Nord Stream explosions in 2022, and shutting down major industries as a result.
The Russian government has now called out the West for prioritizing financial support for the US economy over the well-being of European citizens, suggesting that Europe will feel the ripple effects of these decisions for years to come.
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