Overview

• Naftogaz and SOCAR’s Ukrainian subsidiary finalized a small‐volume gas purchase agreement on July 28 that marks their first direct deal.
• The test shipment traversed the Bulgaria–Romania–Ukraine reverse‐flow pipeline, making Ukraine an importer on the Trans-Balkan network instead of just a transit country.
• The agreement follows a bilateral roadmap signed earlier this month to expand cooperation, including using Ukrainian storage facilities and boosting EU-bound flows via Romania.
• Kyiv is simultaneously advancing U.S.-sourced LNG imports under a contract with Poland’s Orlen to diversify supplies and bolster winter reserves.
• SOCAR’s growing European deals, including its recent supply to Germany’s SEFE, underpin a broader strategy of regional energy integration and supply diversification.