Ukraine has taken an important step towards energy independence by receiving its first supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States. The gas arrived via a Greek LNG terminal, and the deal with the American company Venture Global runs until 2026. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office, stressed the importance of this supply as a strategic step to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security in the face of war with Russia.
“This is not just a cargo – this is a strategic step,” Yermak noted, emphasizing that despite Russia’s constant attempts to destroy Ukraine’s energy system, this step is an important achievement for the country. The energy company DTEK, which received the gas, demonstrated a high level of international cooperation, which is important for maintaining energy stability in Ukraine.
The agreement with the American gas supplier allows Ukraine to diversify its energy supply sources and reduce its dependence on Russian gas, which is an important step towards energy security.
Amidst new energy achievements, Ukraine also faces serious challenges, including the possibility of stopping the transit of Russian gas after January 1, 2025. As noted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the country will not allow the transit of Russian gas through its territory after the end of the current agreement, as this is beneficial to the Kremlin and contributes to its military machine.
The completion of the deal could jeopardize not only energy security but also lead to technical problems that would make it difficult to heat homes in Ukraine. The country's gas pipeline system, one of the largest in the world, could become a target for new attacks because it has been protected by the transit of Russian gas.
Experts note that issues of risks to Ukrainian infrastructure are being discussed at diplomatic levels. As noted by Christian Eggenhofer, senior research fellow at the CEPS think tank in Brussels, continued transit of Russian gas may be necessary to protect the infrastructure, especially in the winter, when the load on gas networks increases.
