European consumers will face higher prices unless Kyiv agrees to extend a deal on Russian gas transit via Ukraine once it expires at the end of the year, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Ukraine has repeatedly said it has no plans to strike a new gas transit deal with Russia when it expires on 31 December.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that if Kyiv did not extend the deal, Russia could find alternative routes, such as the planned Turkish gas hub.

“There are (other) routes, but, of course, such decisions by the Ukrainian side will cause serious damage to the interests of European consumers, those who still want to buy more guaranteed, more affordable… Russian gas,” Mr Peskov told reporters.

He added that Europe will have to pay more for gas from other sellers, including liquefied natural gas supplied by the United States.