Russian gas exports via Soviet-era pipelines running through Ukraine came to a halt on New Year's Day, marking an end to decades of Russian dominance over Europe's energy markets.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said: “As a result of Russia weaponizing energy and resorting to cynical blackmail of partners, Moscow lost one of the most profitable and geographically accessible markets.”
He added that two decades ago, when Vladimir Putin took over from Boris Yeltsin as Russia’s president, over 130 billion cubic meters of Russian gas flowed through Ukraine to Europe annually. “Today, it equals [zero],” he said.
The Ukrainian government announced the halt of Russian gas transit citing national security concerns. The Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom confirmed it had ceased gas exports to Europe via Ukraine at 8 a.m. Moscow time (GMT 0500), as the existing transit agreement expired.
Zelenskyy called for international support for Moldova during its energy transition and expressed hope for increased American natural gas supplies to Europe.
“Cooperation and maximum supply from partners will result in more comfortable prices on the market,” he said.
He also criticized certain European politicians, accusing them of prioritizing “mafia-style schemes” with Moscow over transparent energy policies.
The last remaining EU buyers of Russian gas via Ukraine, such as Slovakia and Austria, have arranged alternative supplies, while Hungary will continue receiving Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline under the Black Sea.
But Transnistria, a breakaway pro-Russian region of Ukraine's neighbor Moldova also reliant on the transit flows, cut off heating and hot water supplies to households early on Wednesday. Local energy company Tirasteploenergo urged residents to dress warmly, hang blankets or thick curtains over windows and balcony doors, and use electric heaters.
Ukraine will lose up to $1 billion a year in transit fees from Russia. To help offset the impact, it will quadruple gas transmission tariffs for domestic consumers from Wednesday, which could cost the country's industry more than 1.6 billion hryvnias ($38.2 million) a year.
Gazprom will lose close to $5 billion in gas sales.
