Initially, Ukrainian policy planned to phase out those imports only by the year 2040, but that lengthy delay was annulled by the court in Vienna. There is now talk of a phasedown by 2027.
Despite geopolitical tensions, the supply of Russian gas to Europe, especially to countries like Austria, largely remains intact. But recent developments on the battlefield and the fight for control over crucial gas infrastructure have further sharpened the discussion about energy security in Europe.
In the past week, the Ukrainian army made a significant move by capturing a Russian gas distribution station in the Kursk region. This station is on the last and only still functioning Russian gas pipeline that transports gas to Western Europe via Ukrainian territory.
Currently, the distribution station in Sudzja is the only point through which Russian gas enters Ukraine for transport to European customers. This operation represents a substantial turning point in the war and has further fueled concerns about the gas supply in countries such as Austria and Hungary, which are almost entirely dependent on Russia for their energy supply.
Although the situation remains tense, Ukraine and Russia have apparently reached an implicit agreement to keep the gas distribution station operational despite hostilities. This decision seems driven by mutual dependence on gas exports and revenues, but it also underscores Europe’s energy supply vulnerabilities.
For Austria, which still sourced 80% of its gas from Russia in 2022, reducing this dependence is a huge challenge. The Austrian government, led by a (caretaker) Purple-Green coalition, has explicitly determined that the country must stop importing Russian gas as soon as possible. Analysts point out that this carries significant risks, requiring the country to rapidly transition to producing sustainable solar and wind energy.