Russia Suspends Gas Deliveries to Italy Following Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Announced Support for Ukraine

Italians last week elected its first female populist candidate Giorgia Meloni to lead the country.

The Italian Center Right Party won big in national elections last Sunday to make Meloni the first female prime minister in the country’s history.

JUST IN: Italy Elects First Female Prime Minister, Populist Leader Giorgia Meloni

In one of her first announcements since winning the election, Meloni pledged her full support for Kyiv after receiving congratulations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for her victory.

"Dear @ZelenskyyUa, you know that you can count on our loyal support for the cause of freedom of Ukrainian people. Stay strong and keep your faith steadfast!" Meloni tweeted. 

Dear @ZelenskyyUa, you know that you can count on our loyal support for the cause of freedom of Ukrainian people. Stay strong and keep your faith steadfast! 🇮🇹🇺🇦

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 27, 2022

On Saturday, Russian energy giant Gazprom suspended gas deliveries to Italy.

The company blamed a transport problem in Austria and reportedly cannot delivery any gas until at least Monday.

JUST IN: Gazprom has cut off gas supplies to Italy https://t.co/5tkRsfKlVH

— Bloomberg (@business) October 1, 2022

RE: Eni not receiving Russian gas, according to Eni statement, the prob originates in Austria according to Gazprom>

Gas flows to Italy are via the TAG pipeline. Problems are due to the refusal of the Austrian operator to confirm the transport nominations https://t.co/dbK9ZqfzpH pic.twitter.com/MFaAL9x3yB

— Tracy (𝒞𝒽𝒾 ) (@chigrl) October 2, 2022

⚡️Bloomberg: Russia cuts off Italy from gas.

Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom said it had suspended gas flows through Austria to Italy over an issue with the Austrian operator, but the cutoff only targets Italy, as Austria keeps receiving gas, according to Bloomberg.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) October 1, 2022

The Daily Mail reported:

Russia's Gazprom suspended gas deliveries to Italy just days after new right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni publicly backed Ukraine.

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The Italian energy giant Eni said they were informed that a transport problem in Austria meant the Russian gas supplier would not able to delivery any gas until at least Monday.

Giorgia Meloni, who will become Italy's new prime minister, previously said Putin 'threatens the security of the entire European continent' and that his annexation of four Ukrainian regions has 'no legal and political value'.

Putin has been at loggerheads with European countries over the supply of natural gas and has been accused of using the flow of gas needed for energy in the region as an economic weapon.

Most of Russian gas delivered to Italy passes via Ukraine through the Trans Austria Gas Pipeline (TAG), to Tarvisio in northern Italy on the border with Austria.

Gazprom later in the day said in a statement that the transportation of Russian gas through Austria had been suspended 'due to the refusal of the Austrian operator to confirm the transport nominations'.

'The reason is related to the regulatory changes that took place in Austria at the end of September,' it added.