The cessation of Russian gas transit is a historic decision. This has been a tool used by Russia, and previously the USSR, to exert pressure on governments to resolve their political issues.
This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Energy, Herman Halushchenko, during the telethon "United News".
"For them, gas has always been a means to exert political influence. They provided gas and offered discounts to sway the authorities of various European countries. Now, the dependence of the European market on Russian gas has nearly fallen to zero. Thus, the cessation of Russian gas transit aligns with EU policy," Halushchenko said.
He mentioned that he personally communicated with his ministerial colleagues, who positively assessed the decision made, despite the manipulations in the information space. According to him, discussions with the European Commissioner also confirmed the correctness of this step. Halushchenko noted that the decision was not unexpected, as relevant plans had been communicated in advance.
He also stated that in the event of a deficit, there would be no export of electricity from Ukraine.