Following Russia’s cut of its gas supplies to Belarus, Ukraine is ready to provide extra gas transit through its territory to other European countries. However, according to the Deutsche Welle, the experts note that the benefits for Ukraine are rather “ghostly”.
A leading expert of Razumkov Centre’s energy programmes Volodymyr Omelchenko said that Ukraine in addition to the contracted amounts of 110 billion cubic meters could transit through its territory another 30 billion cubic meters of Russian gas. However, most of Ukrainian facilities are directed to the south of Europe, when Russian natural gas coming through Belarus goes to Poland and Germany. At the same time Omelchenko stressed that Ukraine can still ensure Russian gas supply to these countries.
“Theoretically, the transit through Ukraine will increase. But it is not very useful for the country, I think, since the next ‘victim’ could be Ukraine itself. If we support Russia against Belarus now, tomorrow one of these parties can play against us. That is why the benefits are rather illusionary,” Volodymyr Omelchenko said. The expert also stressed that Russia is once again using such a policy in relations with transit neighbours to force them joining its Customs Union and thus extend the economic influence.
