Ukrainian PM: Russian gas transit deal will not be extended after Dec 31
Shmyhal says Ukraine ready to discuss transit of gas from anywhere else
Slovak PM says gas transit critical for all Europe
Slovak economy minister says talks underway to avoid flows stopping
Writes through with more quotes from Ukrainian prime minister, Slovak prime minister and Slovak energy minister
Dec 16 (Reuters) -Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Monday a deal enabling the transit of Russian gas through his country would not be extended beyond the end of the year, as some European countries stepped up their search for needed supplies.
Shmyhal, writing on the Telegram messaging app after speaking to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, said Ukraine was willing to discuss transit of gas of any origin except Russian.
"To this effect, if the European Commission officially approaches Ukraine about the transit of any gas other than Russian, we naturally will discuss it and are ready to reach an appropriate agreement," Shmyhal said.
"I stressed that Ukraine's agreement with Russia on gas transit comes to an end on 1st January 2025 and will not be extended."
Shmyhal said much had already been done over the past year to ensure a sufficient supply of energy, particularly gas, to EU countries.
Ukraine, locked in a 33-month-old war with Russia, has said for months that it was unlikely the gas transit contract would be extended.
Slovakia and other countries receiving gas from Russia, transited via pipelines in Ukraine, are in talks to try to avoid those flows stopping when the agreement runs out.
Before the two prime ministers spoke, Fico had said that maintaining gas transit was not just a bilateral matter for Ukraine's neighbours but an issue for the whole EU.
Fico said last week he aimed to secure continued eastern supplies to avoid paying more in transit fees from other suppliers. Slovakia has a long-term contract with Russian giant Gazprom GAZP.MM.
Slovakia's Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said earlier in Brussels that European countries and companies had a combined demand for around 15 billion cubic metres of Russian gas next year via Ukraine and were in talks to secure new supplies.
Slovakia is hoping a deal could cover gas deliveries for two or three years. The EU has set a target of stopping using Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
Moldova, Ukraine's small ex-Soviet western neighbour, has also been in talks to secure supplies from Gazprom and, with the expiry of the transit deal imminent, is considering securing Russian gas through Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.
Ukrainian officials have said talks have also taken place on exploring the possibility of shipping gas from Azerbaijan to European countries via Ukraine.
Reporting by Ron Popeski and Kate Abnett; Editing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O'Brien
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