Filenews 28 December 2024
The Financial Times reported yesterday on Ukraine's next steps, meaning the "threat" to shut down pipelines still carrying Russian gas to Europe.
Kiev has made its decisions and it seems that they are in full agreement with the next US President. When in late November the Ukrainian government officially announced that from January 1 it would not pass through its pipelines Russian gas to Europe, the reactions were anaemic to say the least.
Hungary and Slovakia issued some lukewarm statements, essentially threatening that the European Union should not continue to strengthen the Ukrainian struggle as Volodymyr Zelensky "attacks" the interests of member states. There was no position from the Commission and this stance brought back 2 back meetings of Vladimir Putin with Fico and Orban...
Kiev, just days before 2024 expires, is firmly in place and, based on yesterday's FT report, has already begun moves that will give it energy autonomy for the next difficult months. According to the Financial Times, Ukraine received yesterday the first cargo of American LNG, which was delivered to Ukrainian hands by Greek... According to the financial outlet's report, the Ukrainian management company has already agreed with Greece in the first year – other member countries will follow – to receive the quantities and, after keeping a small percentage for private use, to resell the rest in Europe.
With this plan, which is already being implemented, three things are understood: the US, whose LNG will reach the hands of the Ukrainians, is fully aware, the European Union has given the green light, leaving Hungary and Slovakia out of the decision, and Vladimir Putin will no longer be able to sell a single cubic meter to the European Union, left with only buyers – but at meagre prices – China and India.
2025 begins with a dynamic move on the part of Ukraine, which has received American and European guarantees for the next steps and shows that it is willing to serve the doctrine of the new American President by "flooding" with American energy the whole of Europe from East to West.
The blow to Moscow will not be small and this is evidenced by Vladimir Putin's public message to Poland (!) to activate its own pipeline, which it has kept closed since 2022. Donald Tusk will certainly not make such a move, no matter what pressure the country's President tries to exert on him.
In any case, 2025 is expected to be a "hot" year for the Ukrainian front, even if this flame is "sustained" by American gas.
