Ukraine does not want to renew the gas transit agreement with Russia. This is a challenge, especially for Austria. Kiev is also tempering expectations to receive F-16 fighter jets this year.
The government in Kiev does not want to participate in talks with Russia about the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory. “We will certainly not participate in talks with the Russians, that is absolutely clear,” Ukraine’s energy minister Herman Halushchenko told the Ukrainian service of the US government-funded broadcaster Voice of America (VOA). “The coming year will show whether Europe can do without Russian gas.”
According to him, the conditions for this had been met. Russia had promised to extend the gas transport contract with Ukraine beyond 2024 if the European Union continued to need Russian gas.
The EU has pledged to stop using Russian gas by 2027 as part of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Austria is also pursuing this goal. However, domestic storage facilities are still largely filled with Putin’s gas, which the New York Times recently complained about.
When will the US deliver F-16 fighter jets?
What also rules out Ukraine is the deployment of US-made F-16 fighter jets this year. “It is already clear that we cannot defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets this fall and winter,” Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat told Ukrainian television at a fundraising gala. “We had high hopes that this aircraft would become part of our air defense and protect us from Russian missiles and drone terrorism.”
Ukraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies for F-16 fighter jets. US President Joe Biden backed training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in May, but has not yet given a timetable for completion.
The West has repeatedly stressed that it does not want to provoke a direct confrontation between the US-backed military alliance NATO and Russia.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
