The European Union, Ukraine, and the Russian gas. Note nr 227

The authors examine and discuss whether the Ukrainian crisis can put the European energy security of supply into question again. They briefly recall the history of relationships between Russia and Ukraine, and also the fact that Russia awarded a reduced price to Ukraine for the gas imported from Russia. The authors then propose an overview of conflicts between Russia and Ukraine about natural gas, and briefly describe the crisis which occurred in 2006, and that of 2008 and 2009. They describe Ukrainian attempts to circumvent the issue and to emancipate from the dependence on Russia, notably by using alternate gas pipelines. The Ukrainian political situation is then commented, more particularly with the regime overturn of 2014. The authors propose an overview of the situation regarding Ukraine, gas and the European support to Ukraine. Then comes the question of the replacement of the Russian gas through a reduction of gas consumption in Europe, and the search for new gas sources. Another question is also raised: can the Russian gas find other prospects?