Ukraine said Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom halted gas supply to Hungary via Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System Operator (GTSOU) on Friday.
The move came just two days after Gazprom signed a new 15-year natural gas supply deal with Hungary on Tuesday, which was sharply criticized by Ukraine.
The deal is in effect from Oct. 1 when Hungary will start receiving gas via the TurkStream pipeline and other gas pipelines in southeastern Europe, and up to 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be supplied for 15 years.
The GTSOU said gas supply was suspended “despite the fact that Ukraine's capacity [on gas transit] to Hungary has been contracted for the entire gas year [which covers the period from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2022] in the amount of 24.6 million cubic meters per day.”
Sergei Makogon, the general director of the GTSOU recalled that Hungary has been receiving gas through Ukraine for decades, and the Ukrainian side has never violated its obligations.
“Moreover, the Ukrainian route is the most economically reasonable one because it is the shortest way to supply gas to Hungary, as evidenced by trade between the two countries' companies in recent years,' said Makogon.
GTSOU said that Gazprom's ongoing monopolization of gas routes raises questions about the fundamental principles of the EU's gas markets - competitiveness and transparency.
'The strengthening of the dominance of one player and its use of leverage for obvious political purposes amid a shocking rise in gas prices in Europe must be stopped,' Makogon said.
By Sibel Morrow
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr