Blow for Putin as Ukraine gets gas deal with Russia’s ally
Ukraine could soon receive gas from Azerbaijan, as several European countries are negotiating with the Caucasus nation to secure alternative energy sources.
According to Bloomberg, Hungarian and Slovak companies are currently working on a deal to transport gas from Baku to Europe, anticipating the end of the existing gas agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
While Vladimir Putin maintains favorable relations with the Hungarian and Slovak governments, this new agreement could abruptly halt Russian gas exports to Europe, reducing a significant source of revenue for Moscow.
With the Russia-Ukraine gas deal set to expire this year, Europe has been exploring alternative suppliers, and negotiations with Azerbaijan have been ongoing for several months.
If signed, the contract would allow Ukraine to benefit from Azerbaijani gas without altering the established gas transport route.
However, Europe has requested an annual supply of 12 to 14 billion cubic meters, but Baku lacks the capacity to meet this demand.
Recently, Slovakia denied that an agreement is close to being finalized.
(QG - Source : Newsweek / Picture: © Pixabay)