Vital supplies of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) are set to begin entering Ukraine this winter through a pipeline that traverses the Balkans. This development follows a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, where discussions focused on increasing the flow of American LNG to Greece’s terminals in an effort to “replace Russian gas in the region,” according to Mitsotakis.
The European Commission intends to prohibit all imports of Russian gas to EU member states by the end of 2027, citing concerns that revenues from these sales contribute to funding Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. In light of ongoing conflicts, Zelensky is currently in France for discussions with President Emmanuel Macron regarding a major air defense hardware deal.
Reports indicate that six individuals were killed during recent Russian attacks in the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, and Russia’s military claims to have taken control of three additional Ukrainian villages across various regions. However, these accounts have not been independently verified.
Zelensky announced that deliveries of American LNG are expected to commence in January, highlighting the need for imports to mitigate the destruction caused by the conflict. Mitsotakis remarked that Greece is positioning itself as an energy security provider for Ukraine. According to reports, Ukraine has allocated nearly €2 billion ($2.3 billion) to fund gas imports from EU partners and banks under European Commission guarantees, as well as from Ukrainian banks, to cover imports through March.
Since discontinuing direct purchases of Russian gas in 2015, Ukraine has sourced supplies from various EU nations. The Trans-Balkan pipeline, dating back to the Soviet era, connects Ukraine with LNG terminals in Greece via Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. In furthering military cooperation, Zelensky is set to inspect various military systems during his meetings in France, including plans for a multinational force that may help facilitate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ex0y0p31jo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss