Azerbaijan Plans to Expand Gas Exports to the EU: What’s the Connection to Ukraine?

Azerbaijan is in negotiations to expand natural gas exports to at least three new European countries, with optimism surrounding the discussions. President Ilham Aliyev announced this at a forum held in Italy, as reported by Bloomberg.

Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan is already supplying gas to eight European countries and has an agreement in place to double exports by 2027. “We just want to support those countries (in Europe) and Ukraine. We have certain optimism; I believe there is a basis for a breakthrough,” he said, without specifying the countries involved.

Aliyev also confirmed that Moscow and Kyiv have approached him, offering to facilitate the transit of gas through Ukraine to Europe after the expiration of the transit agreement in December.

Europe is seeking new gas deals to maintain supply volumes following a reduction in flows from Russia in 2022. The flows could be further cut when the contract allowing Russian gas to transit through Ukraine to the European Union expires at the end of the year. It remains unclear whether an alternative route can be found. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he will not allow Russia to benefit from gas transiting through the country’s pipelines.