Athens, Nov 16 (V7N) — Ukraine has finalized an agreement to import American liquefied natural gas (LNG) via Greece to address its looming winter gas shortage. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the deal during his visit to Athens on Sunday.

Under the arrangement, LNG delivered to Greece will be transported to Ukraine through a pipeline crossing the Balkan peninsula. The move comes after repeated attacks on Ukrainian gas infrastructure and production facilities, which have significantly disrupted domestic supply.

In a joint statement, Greek gas company DEPA and Ukrainian state-owned Naftogaz confirmed that the agreement will take effect in December, with gas deliveries scheduled to begin in January 2026.

“What the Russian forces destroy, we rebuild — but it takes time and equipment. In the case of gas, imports are needed to compensate for the destruction of our own production,” President Zelensky said.

To support the initiative, Ukraine has secured about €200 million ($2.3 billion) in financing from European partners and local banks.

The deal coincides with Greece’s first long-term contract to supply Europe with U.S. LNG starting in 2030. It also comes amid the European Commission’s decision to ban imports of Russian LNG from 2027, further underscoring the strategic value of the new partnership.

“Greece will act as your energy security provider,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis assured Zelensky.

Beyond addressing Ukraine’s winter needs, the agreement is expected to strengthen regional energy security and help limit the flow of Russian natural gas into Europe — highlighting deepening diplomatic and economic ties between Kyiv and Athens.

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