President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky admitted that the issue of transit of Russian gas will be discussed at a summit in Norman format on December 9 in Paris. The head of state said this in an interview with Der Spiegel, Le Monde, Time and Gazeta Wyborcza.
“For me it is important that the problem of gas in itself is a matter. Whatever both parties wish, it should in no way be connected with the Donbass. Although I do not exclude that gas transit will also be considered in the Norman format, ”he said.
At the same time, according to Zelensky, the negotiating position of Kiev was greatly weakened due to the construction of the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream-2, which goes around the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) through the Baltic Sea.
Nord Stream 2 significantly weakened our negotiations. Although our European partners claim that this is not a political, but an economic project, I will allow myself to disagree, ”said the President of Ukraine.
He admitted that if a new agreement on gas transit through the gas transportation system of Ukraine is concluded for a period of up to ten years, he recognizes the absence of a political component in Nord Stream-2.
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it is opposed to Nord Stream 2. According to Kiev, after the construction of this gas pipeline is completed, Russia will refuse Ukraine’s transit services. At the same time, the Ukrainian side receives under this agreement up to $ 3 billion annually.
Zelensky calls this project political in order to substantiate the position of his country against him, said Bohdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council on Interethnic Relations under the President of Russia.
“For us, of course, this is an economic project. These are gas supplies to Europe, this is the sale of what we have in abundance. This is what the EU needs so much right now and the need for something in the EU will constantly grow, ”he told RT. “We do not violate any laws, we operate within the framework of the free market, the WTO and agreements with Germany, France and the EU as a whole.”
Note that Russia also allows discussion of gas topics at the Paris summit. This was previously said by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov.
“If there remain problematic issues on which it was not possible to agree, then the presidents will be able to use the meeting in Paris, where one way or another they will have the opportunity to talk together in order to touch on gas issues there,” he said.
- © Gleb Garanich / Reuters
The current contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine expires on December 31. In this regard, the parties are negotiating to extend it. So, in Russia it was noted that the next meeting could take place this week. According to the head of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine Alexey Orzhel, the hypothetical date for the negotiations is December 5. He also said that the contract is at the stage of coordination of “transportation and terms of delivery or compensation of those positions and monetary decisions on arbitrations”
The negotiation process is complicated by litigation between the Ukrainian Naftogaz and Gazprom. According to the decision of the Stockholm arbitration, the Russian company should pay about $ 3 billion. Gazprom considers this decision to be unfair and disputes it.
In addition, Ukraine intends to adopt European legislation in the field of energy. In matters of gas, among other things, this means the need to create an independent GTS operator, withdrawn from the structure of Naftogaz. In Kiev, it was reported that the process will be completed on December 26, that is, less than a week before the end of the current agreement.
On November 18, Gazprom sent Naftogaz an official proposal for a transit agreement. In it, the Russian company proposed extending the existing contract for one year or concluding a new one. In this case, it is necessary to abandon all mutual claims in international arbitration and from all legal proceedings.
In addition, Russia expects Ukraine to respond to a proposal for direct gas supplies. Recall that since 2015, Kiev has been purchasing “blue fuel” in Europe. In fact, this is the same Russian gas that was previously supplied to the EU, and therefore Kiev significantly overpays for it. According to Gazprom, if Ukraine moves to direct purchases from the Russian Federation, the price for consumers will be reduced by 25%.
However, in Kiev, rejection of claims was called an “unacceptable” decision. According to Associate Professor of the Department of Political Theory of MGIMO, Kirill Koktysh, the Ukrainian side deliberately raised the degree of statements in order to discuss transit at a meeting of the presidents.
“Only they (negotiations between Putin and Zelensky. - RT) can help. Moreover, such training is underway. That is, the Ukrainian side has raised rates, and clearly so that it is possible to start trading during this meeting, ”he told RT.
It is also worth noting the inconsistency of statements from the Ukrainian side. So, if Naftogaz, responding to Gazprom, allowed the conclusion of a contract for one year, then the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Alexey Orzhel said that we needed exactly a long-term contract.
“The conditions that we received last Monday from Gazprom to refuse all arbitrations and sign a contract for a year are unacceptable,” said Orgel. “A long-term contract provides an opportunity to attract long-term cheap money for updating investments, for corresponding needs, for pumping gas.”
Such categorical conditions complicate the negotiations, stated Bezpalko.
“Theoretically, the meeting between Putin and Zelensky can remove some contradictions on this issue and, accordingly, bring countries closer to a compromise solution. Although so far there are no such prerequisites. Ukraine still insists on its requirements, which are unacceptable for Russia, ”he concluded.