**Overview of Russian Natural Gas Transit through Ukraine**
– Despite ongoing conflict and sanctions, Russian natural gas continues to flow to Europe via Ukraine’s pipelines, notably through the Sudzha measuring station.
– **Flow Details:** The gas originates from West Siberian fields, crossing into Ukrainian territory and entering the EU at the Slovakia border, supplying countries like Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.
– **Current Situation:** Gas transit remains unaffected as Ukraine has not halted flows, even after recent territorial advances. On Tuesday, 42.4 million cubic meters were scheduled to pass through Sudzha, aligning with recent averages.
– **Historical Context:** A pre-war agreement mandated Russian gas transit through Ukraine until the end of this year, generating revenue for both Gazprom and Ukraine through transit fees. Ukraine’s energy minister indicated no plans to extend this agreement.
– **Europe’s Energy Reliance:** Before the war, Russia accounted for about 40% of Europe’s gas supply. The subsequent reduction forced Europe to seek alternative sources, creating a crisis and significant financial outlays for imports via liquefied natural gas (LNG), mainly from Norway and the U.S.
– **Quantum of Gas Supply:** Though only about 3% of Europe’s gas imports currently flow through Sudzha, it remains crucial for countries like Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary amidst energy supply uncertainties.
– **Future Outlook:** The EU aims to eliminate Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027; however, reliance persists, as seen with increased imports from Russia in certain countries. Some nations have established deals to acquire gas indirectly through other suppliers, like Turkey.
– **Challenges Ahead:** While efforts to reduce Russian gas dependency are underway, economic pressures like high inflation make complete diversification difficult for European countries.