- Tweeter
republish
A few days before the end of 2019, which marks the expiration of a contract between the Russian Gazprom and the Ukrainian Naftogaz, the two parties concluded an agreement under the aegis of the European Commission. It concerns the transit of natural gas from Russia to European consumer countries. The agreement is a compromise, which marks a stage in the relaxation of relations between Russia and Ukraine, all on the background of American sanctions in the Nord Stream 2 dossier.
With our correspondent in Kiev, Sébastien Gobert
There will be no new gas war, at least this year. Gazprom had threatened to stop sending gas to the European Union through Ukraine without appeal after the contract expired on December 31. After lengthy negotiations, the Russian state-owned company now guarantees a minimum amount of transit for the next five years. A decision motivated by the problems affecting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project in the Baltic Sea , called into question by recent American sanctions.
In order to guarantee this agreement, the Ukrainian side, Naftogaz, is renouncing an international arbitration procedure against Gazprom worth more than twelve billion dollars. A decision much criticized in Ukraine, even if it is softened by the payment of three billion dollars that Gazprom has refused to pay so far.
" Compromises are difficult for everyone, " says Iouriy Vitrenko, vice-president of Naftogaz. This agreement shows, however, that Moscow and Kiev can still agree on concrete matters. For many, this is a more than encouraging signal in the context of the resumption of peace negotiations .