What is it about: According to AFP, on Friday Ukraine received the first batch of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the USA. According to Kiev, this will increase the energy security of the country, but also of the whole of Europe. Delivery takes place only a few days before the expiry of the five-year agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. Kyiv has long warned that it will not renew the contract.
“More than just a shipment”: Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK confirmed to AFP that it had received the first American delivery approximately 100 million cubic meters of gas via terminal w Greece. The information was also confirmed by the head of the Ukrainian president's office, Andriy Yermak. “This is more than just a shipment – it is a strategic step. Despite Russian attempts to destroy our energy system during the war, we have succeeded another victory on the energy front“- wrote on X.
Zelensky accuses Fico: Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky accused Slovakia of opening a “second energy front” against his country. After Ukraine announced that it will not extend the contract for the transit of Russian gas gas natural gas to European countries, including Slovakia, prime minister Slovakia's Robert Fico, who visited Moscow six days ago, threatened to suspend electricity exports to Ukraine in response.
“Fico draws Slovakia into Russia's efforts: “The only reasons Ukraine now needs to import electricity is Russia's occupation of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and its use of Shahed missiles and drones to deliberately destroy Ukrainian power plants. Now Fico implicates Slovakia in Russia's efforts to cause more suffering for Ukrainians” – wrote Zelensky. “We need to remind Fico of three things,” he added. “First of all, supporting Russian aggression is completely immoral. Secondly, Fico's short-sighted policy has already deprived Slovaks of compensation for the loss of Russian transit gas. Third, for everyone in Europe, including the people of Slovakia, it will be much more profitable from every perspective to cooperate with neighbors and the EU to increase the supply of Europe's energy resources. Slovakia is part of the single European energy market and FICO must follow common European rules“- he wrote.
Read also text by Marcin Kozłowski: “Fico warns Ukraine regarding the transit of Russian gas. 'We will assess the situation after January 1'.”
Sources: Kyiv Post for AFP, IAR, Andriy Yermak on X