Ukraine is stopping the transit of Russian gas across its borders as a five-year deal ends, leaving some of Europe having to find different routes or suppliers.

The EU has been preparing for the closing of the pipelines for some time, and alternative routes through the Black Sea remain open, but there will be repercussions both with the loss of trade hitting Russia as it enters its third year of attempted invasion and on EU industry.

There will also be some political friction, with some states being more dependent on the gas than others and some earning fees from the gas transiting their borders. This has already led to some EU states appearing to support the Russian position on the potential adverse effects. With some former Eastern Bloc members being seen to be closer to Russia and have major Russian influence, the geopolitical dimension is perhaps the greater concern.

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