As of the beginning of the heating season, Ukraine has accumulated about 13 billion cubic meters of gas in its underground storage facilities, including the so-called “buffer” volume. To ensure a stable winter, the country may need an additional 4 billion cubic meters of gas, which will require an extra 2 billion euros for procurement. Experts note that this deficit has arisen due to a decrease in domestic gas production amid attacks from the Russian Federation, necessitating coverage through imports. In previous years, Ukrainian gas production accounted for up to 85% of the country’s total consumption.
This is reported by Finway
International Support and Gas Supply Agreements
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the state already has agreements in place for crisis situations regarding gas supply amounting to 2 billion dollars. These agreements include both financing and energy resource supplies in cooperation with international partners, including Slovakia, the USA, Norway, Poland, Greece, and Azerbaijan.
Slovakia’s Position and Prospects for Energy Cooperation
Slovak Republic Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized that the issue of Russian gas transit through Ukraine should be one of the points in negotiations regarding Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. According to him, Slovakia loses between 500 and 600 million euros annually due to the cessation of transit.
“In the negotiations regarding Ukraine’s EU accession, the future of Russian gas transit through Ukrainian territory needs to be determined, as Slovakia loses 500-600 million euros each year due to its cessation,” said Robert Fico.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko highlighted Kyiv’s readiness to ensure Slovakia’s energy security and to work on creating a new regional energy hub that will minimize the risks of energy supply for countries in the region.