Russia and Ukraine have prepared a draft detailed protocol for gas transit, said Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak following talks with Ukraine on gas with the participation of the European Commission and the Federal Republic of Germany.

According to Novak, the participants in the discussion “worked very well” and prepared a draft protocol, which is highly prepared and needs to be agreed upon.

“We hope that in the near future we will reach a final agreement already,” Novak quotes RIA Novosti.

The fact of reaching an agreement was confirmed in the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine. This was expressed by the head of the department Alexey Orzhel.

“We have worked very well on the protocol of the decision, which brings us closer to the final agreements,” RIA Novosti quoted the minister as saying.

EC Vice President Marosh Shefchovich also pointed out the effectiveness of today's meeting. He thanked the German Minister of Economics and Energy for participating in the negotiations and for helping to draft an agreement.

  • From left to right: EC Vice President Marosh Shefchovich, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak and Minister of Energy of Ukraine Alexey Orzhel
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  • © Paul Zinken

Shevchovich clarified that further discussion of the agreement will be held on Friday, December 20. According to him, the details of the agreement will not be known until it is approved in Moscow and Kiev.

Later it became known that this meeting will be held in Minsk, and the head of the company, Alexey Miller, will represent Gazprom.

In addition, on Saturday, December 21, representatives of the Russian Gazprom will meet with the new company, the Operator of the gas transmission system of Ukraine. This organization is formed to comply with European regulations, which state that the mining company and the operator cannot be the same person.

A new gas transit contract should be concluded already with the newly formed operator-operator of the gas transportation system of Ukraine.

Commenting on the progress of the parties in reaching a unified solution, the expert of the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies Vladimir Bruter pointed to an important aspect of the dialogue between Moscow and Kiev.

“In my opinion, at the moment, the main remaining issue is the desire of Ukraine to apply to international instances and get even extra money for it. Obviously, if this issue is resolved, I do not see any other obstacles to the restoration of the contract in some form, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

However, he suggested that the new agreement may not be at all what Ukraine expects.

Gas agreement

Recall that at the end of 2019, the current agreement on gas transit between Russia and Ukraine expires. The parties systematically hold consultations on reaching a new agreement, however, an agreement has not yet been reached.

Gazprom management has repeatedly noted that before concluding a new agreement, a number of fundamental issues need to be resolved. Among them, the head of the company Alexey Miller previously called the settlement of litigation between Moscow and Kiev and the discussion of Ukraine’s readiness for direct purchases of Russian gas since 2020.

Note that by now, according to the decision of the Stockholm arbitration, the Russian side must pay the Ukrainian order $ 3 billion. Gazprom disagrees with the decision and disputes it in court.

Vladimir Putin spoke about this trial during a major press conference. He suggested that it was a political decision.

“I am convinced, as a lawyer in basic education, that this decision of the Stockholm Arbitration Court is not legal, not legal, but rather political. One of the justifications (for those sitting here it also seems strange, but interesting) is the decision of the Stockholm court, it is written there: "... in connection with the difficult economic situation in Ukraine." Some kind of nonsense is simple. But they wrote. At least we would refrain from such a record, ”the Russian president said.

He also dwelt in detail on Russia's interest in agreeing with Ukraine on gas transit. The head of state specified the advantages and disadvantages of this route for Moscow.

“We are not going to conclude a contract for a certain period of time in order to stop the transit later. No, we ourselves are interested in this, we want it to be a convenient route, ”Putin said. - By the way, the Ukrainian route to Europe is longer than the route along the Baltic Sea, it is longer and simply more expensive for us. But all the same, to Central and Southern Europe this is also a well-established route, good, we are ready to preserve it. ”

He also recalled that Moscow is still ready to supply gas directly to Ukraine on favorable terms.

“We would be ready to supply gas to Ukraine at a discount of 20-25 percent, this can be done,” Putin concluded.