No More Russian Natural Gas Through Ukraine
By 
One more feature of the Soviet Union ends. Ukraine ended Russian natural gas transit through its pipelines on New Year’s Day. The two countries had failed to reach an agreement. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, negotiating such agreements had become contentious, and Russia’s war against Ukraine was a last straw.
Most European countries planned for this ending and have alternative sources of natural gas. Hungary and Slovakia, which are friendly to Russia, complained about the shutdown, but they can access Russian natural gas through the Turkstream Pipeline through the Black Sea. Moldova and Transnistria, which is occupied by Russia, are also having some difficulties finding new supply.
The loss in revenue to Russia is estimated at $6.5 billion. It’s not a decisive amount in Russia’s economy.
Under the Soviet Union, Ukraine was a center for natural gas transit. The combination loss of money and power is one more reason that Vladimir Putin would like to have control of Ukraine.
Cross-posted to Nuclear Diner