Ukraine has received its first shipment of liquefied natural gas from the US, as part of broader European efforts to fully wean itself off Russian fossil fuels and ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The country’s largest private energy company, DTEK, took the cargo across the Mediterranean, with a ship arriving at a Greek LNG terminal on Friday, the Financial Times reports.

“Cargoes like this not only provide the region with a flexible and secure energy source, but further reduce Russia’s influence on our energy system,” said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK.

Europe gets about 40% of its LNG imports from the US, but this is the first time Ukraine has bought directly. The shipment of the cargo comes just days before a five-year deal allowing Russian gas to pass through Ukraine expires and weeks before Trump is sworn in as US president.

Transit through the Ukraine pipeline still accounts for about 5% of EU gas imports, even as Europe has turned to other LNG imports after Russia’s full invasion in 2022. Trump, who has opposed continuing of military support to Ukraine, has threatened to impose tariffs on European countries unless they buy more oil and gas from the US.

DTEK said it had bought the entire LNG cargo, which carried about 100 million cubic meters of natural gas. Figures from Greece’s National Gas System Operator show that DTEK will retain about one-tenth of the gas, while the rest will be resold to Greek companies.

“It is significant that one of Ukraine’s largest energy companies is receiving LNG from the US on the eve of a potentially major shift in the natural gas market,” said Tom Marzec-Manser, an independent gas analyst.

“Ukraine does not itself buy natural gas from Russia, but if Russia is unable to supply Central European buyers through Ukraine from January 1, then these additional volumes will be critical for security across the region “, he added.

The arrival of the LNG cargo also coincides with Russia stepping up attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. The latest attack occurred on Christmas Day, which left more than half a million people without heat, water and electricity.

DTEK signed the LNG shipment agreement with US firm Venture Global in June. Under the terms, DTEK’s purchases will continue until the end of 2026. A separate 20-year LNG purchase agreement has also been signed.