KIEV, Ukraine”•Ukraine offered Friday to send an additional 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe as President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of orchestrating Europe’s energy crisis and urged action against Russian “gas aggression.”
Europe is in the throes of an energy crisis with gas prices soaring to record highs as economies come back online after the end of pandemic lockdowns and renewables like energy and wind see a slowdown in supplies.
Critics in Western capitals blame Russia for the price hikes, saying Moscow is not upping deliveries to pressure Europe to agree more long-term contracts and for the certification of the recently completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
The controversial pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine, has a total annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was ready to ramp up natural gas supplies to Europe as soon as the pipeline receives regulatory approval.
The Ukrainian leader insisted on Friday that Russia had “enough gas” and accused Moscow of orchestrating Europe’s energy crisis which he called “artificial.”
“Ukraine has something to offer its European partners,” the Ukrainian president said in exclusive written comments to AFP.
“Existing capacities for pumping gas through Ukraine are enough not only to normalize the situation now, but also to ensure Europe against such price shocks in the coming years.”
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of Ukraine’s national security and defense council later Friday, its head Oleksiy Danylov said the post-Soviet country could offer Europe more gas supplies on special terms.
“You know that a crisis is raging in Europe,” Danylov said.
“Today we have a contract with Russia for 40 billion cubic meters of gas, but today we can additionally offer our European friends an additional 55 billion cubic meters of gas.”
No other details were provided.
Zelensky is a long-standing critic of Russia, which in 2014 annexed the Crimean peninsula from Kiev and has since thrown its weight behind separatists in the east of the country.
In his comments to AFP, Zelensky urged Brussels to work with Kiev against Russian “gas aggression.”
“There is a real gas aggression against the European Union,” he said, adding that only a “coordinated” response by governments on the continent to counter “blackmail” would see more moderate prices restored.
The 43-year-old Ukrainian leader said there was an “unprecedented need for joint efforts” in Europe and called on Brussels to work with Kiev on solutions.
Russia turned off supplies to Ukraine in previous disputes and Zelensky this year referred to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a “dangerous geopolitical weapon” that would make Europe reliant on Moscow.
Russia, he said, “has repeatedly tried to freeze Ukraine, shutting off gas and demanding concessions that would damage Ukrainian national interests.”
“Now it is Europe’s turn to get themselves acquainted with the concept of gas war.”
He also said Kiev offered Moscow a discount for sending gas supplies to Europe.
“This is beyond the 40 billion cubic meters already stipulated in the current transit contract with Gazprom,” the Ukrainian president said. “I can assume that this discount will be 50 percent.”