**Ukraine Stops Russian Gas Transit, Hitting Russia’s Economy**
Ukraine has stopped allowing Russian gas to be transported through its territory. This means that no more Russian natural gas will flow through Ukraine into Europe.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this was a big defeat for Russia. He added that Russia had been using energy as a weapon, but now they would have fewer opportunities to do so.
**Why Did Ukraine Stop the Gas Transit?**
Ukraine did not want to finance Russia’s war by continuing to allow Russian gas to be transported through its territory. The agreement between Ukraine and Russia was set to expire at the end of 2024, and Ukraine chose not to extend it.
**How Has Europe Reacted?**
Most European countries have adapted to the lack of Russian gas and are finding alternative supplies. However, some countries like Slovakia and Hungary still rely heavily on Russian gas.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico have been against stopping Russian gas transit through Ukraine. They said this would have “radical consequences” for Europe, but not for Russia.
**What’s Next?**
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland will lead efforts to bring peace to the region. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that over 38,000 Russian troops and 1,000 pieces of equipment have been lost since Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com