Europe's Energy Crisis Deepens as Ukraine Cuts Russian Gas Supplies

EU|

The energy crisis in Europe has intensified following Ukraine's decision to stop Russian gas supplies through its territory. As the contract with Gazprom expired on January 1, 2025, the historic pipeline used for transporting gas from east to west has been completely shut down. This marks a significant development in the ongoing energy challenges exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

Moldova is experiencing the immediate impacts of the gas cutoff, facing severe winter conditions without heating or hot water. The government had anticipated this situation, but alternative solutions have been lacking, particularly in the pro-Russian region of Transnistria. In response to the crisis, the director of the International Energy Agency has urged European nations to aid Moldova in maintaining essential energy supplies.

Slovakia and Hungary, which heavily relied on the Ukrainian pipeline, are also seeking alternative gas sources. While Slovakia must contend with additional costs—approximately €180 million in 2025—for securing gas, Hungary plans to increase imports from Russia through Turkey.

Despite these challenges, experts indicate that there will not be an immediate gas shortage for the European Union. However, the cessation of supplies may strain markets and contribute to rising energy prices. The International Energy Agency forecasts a tightening of global gas markets in 2025.

Ukraine's refusal to renegotiate its gas terms has led to potential retaliatory measures from neighboring countries, further highlighting divisions within the EU regarding energy security and foreign policy towards Russia. Meanwhile, the EU will likely increase imports of liquefied natural gas, including from the United States and Qatar, in response to the evolving energy landscape.

Weekly Newsletter

Loading...

More from

Europe Registers Hottest March on Record Amid Climate Concerns

Europe experienced its hottest March ever recorded, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, marking a significant rise in global temperatures that has sparked alarms among climate scientists. The month saw areas of the continent facing both extreme dryness and unprecedented rainfall, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. Globally, March 2025 ranked as the second-hottest month on record since the dataset began, remaining 1.6 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages, as confirmed by Copernicus. This anomaly extends a trend of heightened temperatures that has persisted since July 2023, defying predictions that a warming El Niño event would subside in 2024. "We are still experiencing extremely high temperatures worldwide. This is an exceptional situation," stated Robert Vautard of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Experts warn that each fraction of a degree of warming amplifies the frequency of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and heavy rainfall. "As climate breakdown progresses, more broken records are only to be expected," said Bill McGuire from University College London, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive action against climate change.
EU

Euclid Space Telescope Unveils Treasure Trove of Galaxies

The European Space Agency (ESA) has released its first data from the Euclid space telescope, launched in July 2023 to investigate dark matter and dark energy. The initial release, dated March 19, includes scans of three regions of the sky, revealing detailed classifications of over 380,000 galaxies, which is just 0.4% of the estimated total for its six-year mission. According to Carole Mundell, ESA's director of science, this data opens new avenues for understanding fundamental questions in modern science. Euclid's goal is to map the large-scale structure of the universe, which could provide insights into the nature of dark matter and dark energy, collectively constituting about 95% of the universe, yet remain undetectable by traditional means. The telescope has already captured images of 26 million galaxies, the farthest of which are located 10.5 billion light-years away. Euclid is set to revisit these areas 30 to 52 times during its mission, enhancing image resolution and data collection capabilities. Valeria Pettorino, the project scientist, anticipates significant discoveries ahead as the mission progresses.
EU

Scientific Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Hydrogen Fuel Production

Researchers at Anemel, a European research organization, have announced a significant advancement in hydrogen fuel production, potentially making it cheaper and more efficient. According to a study published in the journal *Energy & Environmental Science*, the team developed a stable method for splitting water molecules without the need for rare platinum group metals (PGMs), traditionally required as catalysts in electrolysis. Instead, the new catalyst uses more readily available materials, such as nickel and molybdenum, demonstrating high robustness and performance in tests. Officials from Anemel highlighted that this development could enable scalable and cost-effective clean hydrogen production, a crucial step toward replacing fossil fuels. Hydrogen is celebrated for its zero carbon emissions when burned and its abundance as the most plentiful element in the universe. If successfully scaled, this innovation could lead to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future, addressing significant challenges in hydrogen adoption, according to the researchers.
EU
All News ->