“Attempt to play in public”: how in Ukraine responded to Gazprom’s proposal for gas transit

For Ukraine, a gas transit contract with Russia is a priority. This was stated by Minister of Energy Alexei Orzhel.

“For us, the absolute priority is the signing of a contract for the transportation of (gas. - RT ),” he said.

According to Orzhel, Kiev has already submitted draft agreements “to the European legislation” to the Russian “Gazprom”. The minister did not explain whether the contracts provide for mutual waiver of claims, on which Moscow insists.

Earlier it became known that Naftogaz of Ukraine is ready to conclude a long-term contract with the Russian Gazprom on the basis of European legislation. About this on his Facebook page wrote the executive director of the Ukrainian company Yuri Vitrenko. According to him, these provisions are recorded in the official letter of Naftogaz to Gazprom.

“We do not yet see legitimate reasons for not concluding a new contract for gas transit through Ukraine according to European rules, and we express our willingness to work diligently on this for our part,” he wrote.

Vitrenko also said that Kiev is ready for a short-term contract if it is not possible to conclude a document for the long term. However, in this case, the contract should be based on European law.

At the same time, Naftogaz insists on payments in accordance with the decisions of the Stockholm arbitration. Recall that, according to them, Gazprom should pay the Ukrainian side about $ 2.56 billion. However, Russia considers this decision to be unfair, and therefore litigation is ongoing.

Gazprom should pay Naftogaz approximately $ 3 billion. We are satisfied with the money, but if Gazprom wants to pay this debt with gas supplies, then we are ready to consider such an offer, ”Vitrenko explained.

At the same time, Naftogaz previously announced a $ 22 billion debt to Gazprom. This figure was voiced by the director of the company Andrey Kobolev. In addition to the amount announced in the decision of the Stockholm arbitration, it includes a lawsuit for $ 12 billion and a fine from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine of $ 7 billion.

Gazprom calls on the Ukrainian side to mutually abandon all claims against each other. The corresponding item was in the official proposal, which the Russian company sent to Naftogaz on November 18. Gazprom also suggested that Ukraine switch to direct purchases of Russian gas - this will reduce the cost of energy for consumers by 25%.

Orgel then called Gazprom’s proposal unacceptable.

“Let's be honest. The proposal, which has now been received, is unacceptable for Ukraine, given the fact that it is necessary to abandon arbitration and sign an agreement for only one year of using our gas transportation system, ”he said.

Moscow has already indicated the necessary conditions for concluding an agreement, but Kiev refuses to take a constructive position, said Ukrainian political scientist and economist Alexander Dudchak.

“Now they say they are ready for a new contract, but this is an attempt to play in public rather, in anticipation of a meeting in the Norman format. But I think that this time they also interpret the concept of a new gas transit agreement in their own way, ”he told RT.

Using the issue of transit of Russian gas through its territory to Europe, Kiev is blackmailing the EU, said Viktor Vodolatsky, deputy chairman of the State Duma’s committee on CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots.

“The Ukrainian side is blackmailing Europe with this, which depends on transit through Ukraine, until Nord Stream 2 is launched.” I am sure that the European Commission should force Kiev to sign an agreement. This is due to the energy security of the EU as a whole, which depends on the transit of Russian gas, ”the deputy said in an interview with RT.

• Installation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline
• © nord-stream2.com

“Russia against gas wars”

Recall that the current gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expires on December 31. In order for European countries to receive Russian gas even after the expiration of the contract, trilateral negotiations are underway - between Moscow, Kiev and Brussels.

Recent consultations took place on November 20. According to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, who represented Russia, Moscow has done everything to resolve gas disputes with Kiev.

“Russia is against any gas war,” he said. - We are making efforts so that they do not exist, so that everything is settled in advance. We have done everything for this. ”

According to the Russian position, the contract should be commercially viable, and mutual claims should be withdrawn.

“This means a mutual rejection of claims and the termination of litigation between PJSC Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine on contracts for the supply and transit of Russian gas, restoring the balance of commercial interests of the parties,” Gazprom said in a statement.

Negotiations, in addition to lawsuits, are complicated by the position of Ukraine under European law. Kiev intends to integrate into the energy space of the EU, and therefore adopts the relevant laws. At the same time, and in this matter, Moscow went forward - the Russian side expressed its readiness to extend the current contract for one year, so that Kiev could manage to adopt new standards.

It is assumed that a new meeting in a trilateral format may take place on November 29. This was announced by the deputy head of the Ministry of Energy of Russia Anatoly Yanovsky.

“Potentially scheduled for Friday. But it can be in a different mode: video conferencing or face-to-face. We will solve this on Wednesday (November 27. - RT ), ”TASS quoted him as saying.

At the same time, Yanovsky appreciates the last consultation that took place.

European partners who are interested in Russian gas are pushing Ukraine into transit, said Igor Yushkov, a leading expert at the National Energy Security Fund and a lecturer at the Financial University under the Government of Russia.

“We see that the pressure is increasing. And the question arises that it may really be worth signing a contract for a year, this will allow at least a year to still receive money for transit, and not lose everything now, ”he told RT. “But Naftogaz needs to somehow save face and it cannot just accept and agree to all conditions, even if they are more profitable to it than Gazprom.”