US liquefied natural gas will be imported by Ukraine through Greece.
This groundbreaking agreement came to light after a recent meeting in Athens between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greece has been actively working to increase the flow of American LNG to its terminals, with Mitsotakis stating the goal is to "replace Russian gas in the region." This initiative aligns with the European Commission's broader strategy to prohibit all imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027, aiming to cut off funding for Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Following his visit to Greece, President Zelensky traveled to France for discussions with President Emmanuel Macron, focusing on a major deal for air defense equipment.
Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine continues, with reports of six people killed overnight in Russian attacks across the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions. Russia's military claimed to have captured three more Ukrainian villages, one each in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. It's important to note that these reports could not be independently verified.
Earlier in Athens, Zelensky indicated that American LNG deliveries are expected to commence in January. He emphasized Ukraine's resilience, stating, "We rebuild each time the Russians destroy but this truly requires time, much effort, equipment and, regarding gas... imports to compensate for the destruction by the Russians of our own production." Prime Minister Mitsotakis affirmed Greece's role, telling Zelensky, "Greece is becoming an energy security provider for your homeland."
According to Reuters, Ukraine has secured nearly €2 billion (approximately £1.8 billion or $2.3 billion) in funding for gas imports from European partners and banks, backed by European Commission guarantees, as well as from Ukrainian banks. These funds are designated to cover imports through March. Ukraine has not directly purchased Russian gas since 2015, instead relying on supplies from various EU states. The LNG will travel via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, a Soviet-era infrastructure connecting Ukraine to Greek LNG terminals through Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria.
On Monday, Zelensky met Macron at the Villacoublay airbase near Paris, where he was scheduled to inspect advanced military assets, including Rafale fighter jets, the SAMP-T air defense system, and various drone systems. He was also slated to tour the nascent headquarters for a future multinational force, which could potentially oversee a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, has tragically resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, predominantly soldiers, and forced millions of civilians to flee their homes.
