This was stated by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Viktor Maiko, in an interview with Elhan Shainoglu, head of the Atlas Research Center.
Discussing the European Union, Turkey, and Azerbaijan’s interest in transporting Turkmen gas via the Caspian Sea, and the obstacles hindering this project, the ambassador highlighted that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are committed to the project.
“Turkmenistan holds the fourth-largest gas reserves globally and aims to diversify its gas transportation. Until 2006, Ukraine was one of the main buyers of Turkmen gas, which helped us balance our gas supplies. Turkmenistan has constructed a pipeline from one of its major fields to the Caspian coast. Unfortunately, the EU has not fulfilled its promises, leading to delays in building the pipeline along the Caspian coast. Although green energy is a frequent topic now, European countries still need natural gas. It’s also important to address the opposition of Russia and Iran to the Trans-Caspian project. Russia uses the ‘environmental factor’ as an argument against the project, claiming it would harm the Caspian Sea’s ecology. Yet, Russia has built various pipelines along the Black and Baltic Seas, where environmental concerns were not an issue. The Caspian Sea’s ecology is affected by ballistic missiles launched by Russian ships from this area toward Ukraine, some of which have fallen into the Caspian. Nonetheless, I believe the Trans-Caspian project will be realized, and Ukraine will receive gas through this pipeline in the future,” the ambassador stated.
The ambassador added that, depending on the situation, Kyiv will continue to strengthen its contacts with Ashgabat and Baku on gas transport: “We do not buy gas from Russia. Therefore, Ukraine seeks to purchase gas from other countries and transport it to Europe, for which we have significant infrastructure.”
The ambassador noted that previous trade routes between Ukraine and Turkmenistan are no longer viable, while new routes require additional investments. He pointed out that Ukraine utilizes Georgia and Azerbaijan’s transportation capabilities, seeking to leverage European connections.
In September, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, and Romania signed a four-party agreement to use the Black Sea–Caspian Sea route, which Ukraine also aims to utilize.
Elaborating on new routes, the ambassador highlighted, “Ukraine has access to Asian markets using the transport routes of Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. In recent years, we have also utilized Iran’s transportation opportunities. However, Iran’s military support for Russia has complicated this route. Ukraine has strengthened its trade ties between ports in Bulgaria and Romania. Despite the ongoing war, we continue to expand these connections. We aim to increase cargo transport between the ports of Odessa-Poti and Odessa-Batumi, from which products can be loaded directly onto rail lines. This aligns with one of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s ‘Victory Formula’ points, which emphasizes Ukraine’s food security. Cooperation in this field serves the interests of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. On November 23, Ukraine will host a grain summit to discuss global food security, with hopes that Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan will participate.”
The ambassador commended the humanitarian support from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to Ukraine: “We are grateful to Baku and Ashgabat for this assistance. Turkmenistan has not supported any provocative documents proposed by Russia in international organizations and has refrained from joining anti-Ukrainian initiatives. The majority of Turkmen citizens support Ukraine. After the war, we will continue strengthening our political and economic relations.”
Maiko also noted that COP29 is one of the most significant international events of the year, emphasizing that Ukraine will be represented at a high level: “Ukraine will have its own pavilion at the event in Baku. Climate change is a pressing issue for war-torn Ukraine, where the environment has suffered extensively. Around 130,000 square kilometers of Ukraine are contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, which will take decades to clear. Before the war, Ukraine was among Europe’s greenest countries, but a third of its forests have been burned, and its rivers poisoned by chemical waste.”
He praised Azerbaijan’s climate change initiatives, particularly highlighting the COP29 event in Baku as a notable example.
