In brief
In a major development, Russia's Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it has suspended natural gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, a pipeline that has been operational for nearly six decades. The cessation follows Ukraine's decision not to renew an agreement for the transit of Russian gas through its territory, which expired earlier that day. This decision represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing energy conflict stemming from the war between the two countries.
Gazprom publicized the suspension via the Telegram messaging platform, confirming that gas flow stopped at 8 a.m. Moscow time. This pipeline was Russia's last substantial gas corridor to Europe after the Nord Stream pipeline was sabotaged in 2022 and an alternative route through Belarus to Poland was shut down.The implications of this energy cut could be profound, exacerbating existing tensions in Europe where energy supplies have already been strained due to the ongoing conflict. The situation remains fluid as the region braces for the potential economic fallout from these developments.This piece was reported collaboratively by Mike Ives, Marc Santora, and Andrew Higgins, drawing on their extensive experience and coverage of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
