Putin Warns of Urgency in Gas Deal Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine will block Russian gas supplies via its territory, halting transit to Slovakia, Moldova, and Hungary, as it refuses to renew its gas transit agreement with Russia, which expires at the end of 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for not extending the deal, claiming this will harm European countries reliant on Russian gas, which has dropped significantly in recent years from over 40% to less than 10% of EU imports. Putin stated there is no time left to negotiate a new deal, citing a legal dispute that prevents Russia from supplying gas through Ukraine. Meanwhile, eastern European nations like Slovakia continue to rely on Russian gas, with Slovakia's Prime Minister maintaining ties with the Kremlin. The current transit volume via Ukraine stands at about 15 billion cubic meters, representing only a fraction of past flows. As the deadline approaches, the potential for discussions between Russia and Ukraine remains uncertain.