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Russian gas made up lower than 10% of the EU’s gas imports in 2023, according to figures from the bloc, external, in contrast to 40% in 2021.
However a number of EU members, together with Slovakia and Austria, proceed to import important quantities of gas from Russia.
Austria’s power regulator mentioned it didn’t forecast any provide disruption because it had diversified sources and constructed up reserves.
However Ukraine’s determination has already brought on severe tensions with Slovakia, which is now the principle entry level of Russian gas into the EU and earned transit charges from piping the gas on to Austria, Hungary and Italy.
On Friday, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico – who had simply made a surprise visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin – threatened to cease the provision of electrical energy to Ukraine.
This prompted Mr Zelensky to accuse him of serving to Mr Putin “fund the conflict and weaken Ukraine”.
“Fico is dragging Slovakia into Russia’s makes an attempt to trigger extra struggling for Ukrainians,” the Ukrainian president mentioned.
Poland has provided to assist Kyiv in case Slovakia cuts off its electrical energy exports – provides which might be essential to Ukraine, whose energy crops come below common assault from Russia.
Moldova – which isn’t half of the EU – could possibly be critically affected by the end of the transit settlement. The gas fuelled an influence plant on which Moldova depends for many of its electrical energy wants. It additionally equipped the Russia-backed breakaway area of Transnistria, a small sliver of land sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine.
Moldova’s power minister, Constantin Borosan, mentioned the federal government had taken steps to guarantee secure energy provides to the nation however referred to as on residents to save power. A 60-day state of emergency within the power sector has been in place in Moldova since mid-December.
President Maia Sandu accused the Kremlin of “blackmail” presumably aimed toward destabilising her nation forward of a normal election in 2025. The Moldovan authorities additionally mentioned it had provided help to Transnistria.
