Zelenskyy: halt of Russian gas transit via Ukraine marks Moscow’s “biggest failure”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted the interruption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine as one of Moscow’s significant strategic failures. Writing on Telegram, Zelenskyy emphasized the drastic decline in gas transit volumes since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rise to power.

“When Putin came to power in Russia more than 25 years ago, the annual gas transit to Europe through the territory of Ukraine amounted to 130+ billion cubic meters. Today, Russian gas transit is 0. This is one of Moscow’s biggest failures,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president attributed this development to Russia’s “weaponization of energy resources” and its “cynical energy blackmail” of partners, which he said had cost Moscow access to its most geographically convenient and lucrative market.

Zelenskyy also praised European countries for successfully adapting to these changes, adding that supporting Moldova during its energy transformation should now be a collective priority. He further criticized European politicians who, in his words, “prefer mafia schemes with Moscow instead of a transparent energy policy.”

Ukraine suspended the transit of Russian gas to Europe through its territory starting January 1.