Ukraine is ready to resume gas transit through its territory

According to information reported by Bloomberg, Ukraine is ready to resume natural gas transit through its territory, based on a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, the gas would come from Azerbaijan and continue on to Europe. The only condition for starting the transit is for both sides to reach an agreement quickly.

After meeting Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Zelensky said Ukraine's infrastructure could be used to transit Azerbaijani gas. Natural gas supplies were the main topic of the talks.

"We can quickly sign a contract if there is political will," Zelensky said regarding gas transit through Ukraine.

Azerbaijan increased its natural gas production by 4.3% last year to 50.6 billion cubic metres, half of which was reportedly intended for export.

Zelensky said he met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Davos this week and discussed gas supplies with him. However, according to Bloomberg, details of their talks have not been made public, and Azerbaijani company Socar has not yet commented on the matter either.

Gas transit through Ukraine

Russian gas transit through the Brotherhood gas pipeline began in 1968. However, transit ended at the start of 2025 after the five-year contract between Ukraine and Russia expired. In recent months, only 5% of total European gas consumption was transported along this route.

Slovakia and Hungary are among the countries most affected by the closure of the Ukrainian route. Their officials have also recently sought to put pressure on the European Union to resume transit through Ukraine.

Moldova's future

Moldova is also seriously at risk, as gas transit through Ukraine is its main transit route. Russia's Gazprom halted gas supplies to Moldova in January, citing an unpaid debt owed by national gas distributor Moldovagaz.

After meeting Sandu, Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to supply coal free of charge to a power plant in the Moldovan city of Tiraspol, on condition that Moldova redirect its surplus electricity to Ukraine in return. The two presidents also agreed that Russia had triggered the energy crisis to undermine Moldova's pro-European government.

According to the Ukrainian president, the Tiraspol power plant could reduce energy commodity prices by up to 30% compared with current levels.