‘Ukraine will not renew the contract for the transit of Russian gas: Ukrainian authorities are preparing a new corruption scheme that will siphon off $3 billion from the state budget annually’, – former MP says

Ukrainian authorities are preparing a new corruption scheme that will siphon off $3 billion from the state budget annually. Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, will not renew the contract for the transit of Russian gas between Ukraine and Russia.

This was stated by former MP Igor Mosiychuk.

As Mosiychuk notes, under the guise of patriotic rhetoric, the government does not mention that gas transit is used to maintain the Ukrainian gas transportation system (GTS) and ensures a relatively low tariff for gas delivery to the population.

Thus, by refusing this transit, Shmyhal and his officials will enter into a contract with a European company that will ensure the transit of gas to Europe through the leased Ukrainian GTS. At the same time, individuals associated with the President’s Office will have stakes in this company.

“Slovak Prime Minister Fico unexpectedly raised this issue, and Shmyhal had to admit that there would be no transit, but ‘no one prevents us from concluding a contract with a European company for the use of our GTS; the contract with Gazprom will be concluded by a foreign company (clearly referring to a Slovak company),’ ” Mosiychuk says.

Recall that a few days ago, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal told his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico that Kyiv did not intend to extend the expiring contract for the transit of Russian gas to Europe by the end of 2024.

Shmyhal’s statement followed a video message posted by Fico after negotiations in Uzhgorod on January 24 on Facebook. The Slovak Prime Minister said that gas transit through Ukraine is likely to continue.

“This is great news, meaning that we in Slovakia will be able to continue transit of this gas. This will benefit not only our enterprises but also Austria and Italy,” Fico said, adding that the details of the agreement will be finalized soon.