The Financial Times in an op-ed yesterday lays out the next steps for Ukraine, which means “threatening” to shut down pipelines that still carry Russian gas to Europe.

Kiev has made its decisions and it seems that these are in full agreement with the next US President as well. When in late November the Ukrainian government officially announced that as of January 1 no Russian gas would be passing through its pipelines to Europe, the reactions were anemic to say the least.

Hungary and Slovakia issued some “tepid” statements, essentially threatening that the European Union should not continue to support the Ukrainian cause as the Volodymyr Zelenski is “attacking” the interests of member states… No position was taken by the Commission and this stance brought back 2 back meetings of Vladimir Putin with Fitch and Orban…

With just days to go before 2024 expires, Kiev is firmly in place and, based on an FT report yesterday, has already begun moves that will give it energy autonomy for the difficult months ahead. According to the Financial Times, Ukraine today received its first shipment American LNG which was delivered into Ukrainian hands by Greek. According to the report of the financial medium, the Ukrainian management company has already agreed with Greece in the first year – other member countries will follow – to receive the quantities and after keeping a small percentage for its own use to resell the rest to Europe…

With this plan already being implemented three things are clear: the US whose LNG will get into the hands of the Ukrainians is fully aware, the European Union has given the green light leaving Hungary and Slovakia out of the decision and Vladimir Putin will no longer be able to sell a single cubic meter to the European Union leaving China and India as the only buyers – but at meager prices.

2025 starts with a dynamic move on the part of Ukraine which has gotten American and European guarantees for the next steps and shows that it is willing to serve the doctrine of the new American President by “flooding” the whole of Europe from the East to the West with American energy.

The blow for Moscow will not be small and this is proven by Vladimir Putin’s message – a public call to Poland (!) to activate its own pipeline which it keeps closed from 2022. The Donald Tusk data will not make such a move no matter what pressure the President tries to put on him.

In any case, 2025 is expected to be a “hot” year for the Ukrainian front even if this flame is “sustained” by American natural gas.