(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JAN 1 - The disruption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine represents "one of Moscow's biggest defeats." Volodymyr Zelensky said. "When Putin gained power in Russia more than 25 years ago, the annual pumping of gas through Ukraine to Europe was more than 130 billion meters3. Today, Russian gas transit is at 0. This is one of Moscow's biggest defeats," the Ukrainian leader stressed, denouncing the Russians' "cynical energy blackmail." Kiev and Moscow confirmed in two separate statements that Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine have permanently ceased today due to the expiration of the 5-year contract signed between the parties at the end of 2019. "We have stopped Russian gas transit, a historic event. Russia is losing markets and will suffer financial losses," said Ukrainian Energy Minister Guerman Galushchenko. "As of 8:00 a.m. , local time, Russian gas is no longer being supplied for transit through Ukraine," said Gazprom, the Russian gas giant. "The EU is well prepared to deal with the end of gas transit through Ukraine, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Commission and member states." The European Commission writes this in the conclusions of its assessment of the contract stop between Kiev and Moscow, pointing to alternative supply routes "to bring the necessary volumes" to Europe via the "4 main diversification routes, with volumes coming mainly from LNG terminals in Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland but possibly also from Turkey." "The disruption of gas transit through Ukraine will have a drastic impact on all of us in the EU, not just the Russian Federation," says Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, close to the Kremlin, who warns of serious consequences. For Poland, on the other hand, it is "another victory after the enlargement of NATO to Finland and Sweden" in 2023 and 2024 Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria has cut off the supply of heating and hot water to households after Russia cut off gas supplies through Ukraine, Reuters reports. (ANSA).