Russia ‘Has All Capabilities’ to Restore Gas Supplies to Europe Through Yamal–Europe Pipeline: Deputy Prime Minister

A worker turns a valve at a gas compressor station at the Yamal–Europe pipeline near Nesvizh, some 81 miles southwest of Minsk, Belarus, on Dec. 29, 2006. Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Dec. 25 that the Kremlin is prepared to reinstate gas supplies to Europe through the Yamal–Europe pipeline as much of the EU battles with freezing temperatures.

“The European market remains relevant because a gas deficit remains, and we have all capabilities to restore supplies. For example, the Yamal–Europe pipeline, shut down over political motives, remains unused,” Novak told the state-owned news agency, TASS.

The Yamal–Europe natural gas pipeline is 4,107 kilometers (2,552 miles) long and connects Russian natural gas fields in the Yamal Peninsula and Western Siberia with Poland and Germany, through Belarus.

Russian state-owned company Gazprom stopped pumping gas supplies through the pipeline to Poland and eastern Germany in May, shortly after President Vladimir Putin launched his so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.

At the time, Russian officials blamed Western sanctions for the suspension. However, relations between Russia and the West have grown increasingly fragile this year amid the Kremlin’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, and Europe’s dependence on Russian gas has become a focal point.

Natural gas from Russia accounted for around 45 percent of Europe’s total gas imports in 2021, but along with a string of other sanctions against Russia, the EU has vowed to end dependency on Russian gas by 2030.

As of 2022, EU imports of Russian gas have dropped to 9 percent, according to a September statement from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

However, Novak stated on Dec. 25 that there’s an increase in demand for gas supplies from Europe amid a colder-than-normal winter, while taking aim at the multiple sanctions the West has put in place against Russia.

A worker checks pipes at a gas compressor station on the Yamal–Europe pipeline near Nesvizh, about 130 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of Minsk, on Dec. 29, 2006. Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters

Turkey to Be Europe’s Largest Natural Gas Hub

Novak also addressed ruptures to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September, which led to Russia terminating gas supplies through the pipeline indefinitely, branding it an act of “sabotage.”

“Today, we can say with certainty that there is demand for our gas. So we continue to view Europe as a potential market for our produce. It is clear that a wide-scale campaign has been initiated against us, which ended with sabotage against the Nord Stream pipeline,” he said.

According to Novak, Russian gas supplies through the TurkStream pipeline, which runs from Russia to Turkey through the Black Sea and provides energy to South and Southeast Europe, are currently running at full capacity.

Turkey has maintained a friendly relationship with the Kremlin throughout its invasion of Ukraine, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly attempting to play the role of mediator in the conflict.

In October, Putin and Erdogan announced that they had held talks in which they proposed establishing Europe’s largest natural gas hub in Turkey.

“We have agreed with Vladimir Putin to create a gas hub in our country, through which natural gas ... can be delivered to Europe,” Erdogan announced on Oct. 19.

The gas hub could potentially be built in Trakya (Thrace), which is in the westernmost part of the country, according to local reports.

However, no further progress appears to have been made on the proposed deal.

Russia’s deputy prime minister told TASS on Dec. 25 that discussions are ongoing regarding the implementation of additional gas supply volumes through Turkey after such a hub is created.

“We actively work with the countries that will take part in this project, as well as with the consumers that require gas from Russia,” he said.