European officials are engaged in discussions to ensure the continuity of gas supply through a crucial Russia-Ukraine pipeline amidst the ongoing conflict, reported Bloomberg, citing sources.
Despite efforts to reduce dependency on Russian gas, several Eastern European nations still rely on a pipeline traversing Ukraine for supply.
The current agreement governing the pipeline is due to expire at the end of the year, raising concerns about potential disruptions to Europe’s energy supply.
To address this, European government and company officials are exploring alternatives including the possibility of purchasing and injecting gas from Azerbaijan into Russian pipelines bound for Europe, the report said.
This strategy could help Europe avoid the stigma of buying Russian gas while simultaneously attempting to limit Moscow’s income.
The concept is gaining traction, especially since Ukraine, which earned around $1bn from transit revenues in 2021, appears to be supportive.
