After a break of a year Russia and Ukraine will put pressure on each other trumps in the gas confrontation
After a break of a year Russia and Ukraine will put pressure on each other trumps in the gas confrontation
© UNIAN
Meeting in a trilateral format will take place on 9 December in Brussels.
Today, December 9, in the Belgian Brussels after more than a year break will be held trilateral talks of Ukraine, Russia and the European Commission regarding the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe and possible supplies to Ukraine are already more than a year.
Ukraine and Russia have their advantages, and vulnerabilities in the gas confrontation. About it writes “Kommersant”. Kyiv ready to buy Russian gas, but subject to the cancellation conditions take-or-pay (“take or pay” – regardless of whether or not Ukraine to buy gas, she would still have to pay to “Gazprom” even in the absence of supply). This condition is written in the contract from 2009 and the abolition of which Kiev demands in the Stockholm arbitration hearing the parties has held, the decision may be in Jan-Feb 2017.
Ukraine demands to cancel take-or-pay supplemental agreement – Russia do not hurry. But can agree, if Ukraine will cancel the fine in the amount of 172 billion ($6.4 billion). This penalty to “Gazprom” imposed by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine because of the violation by the company of Antimonopoly legislation during transit of blue fuel. Moscow does not recognize the violation, pay the fine and not going to want to point in this dispute also put the Stockholm arbitration. Russia may cancel Ukraine the condition of take-or-pay, provided that Kyiv will cancel the penalty.
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Ukraine is not in the best position. Summer didn’t have the money for the purchase of gas for the winter, so gas reserves right now in the underground storage facilities of 13.25 billion cubic meters. Cold October and November forced away from storage 35% more gas than in the same period last year. And given the forecasts of a severe winter, the current reserves of Ukraine can critically decrease at the end of January or beginning of February. Without Russian gas Ukraine will not do, because supplies from Europe, including the reverse of Russian gas, may not be enough. And then Kiev will have to give in and to negotiate the purchase of gas (from 1.5 to 4 billion cubic meters) at the best Moscow conditions.
If the parties fail to agree today, that the following discussion could take place in late winter – after the verdict of the Stockholm arbitration on the gas supply contract.
Another trump card of Russia – the cost of gas. Thousand cubic metres of gas from Russia is approximately $ 182, and from Europe – 244 dollar (including shipping to Europe).
At today’s meeting in Brussels, Ukraine will be represented by Minister of energy Igor Nasalik and the head of “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Andrey Kobelev, Russian energy Minister Alexander Novak and Vice-President of Board “Gazprom” Alexander Medvedev, the European Commission – Vice-President of the EC Maros Sefcovic.
Recall that the transit of Russian gas to European Union countries via Ukraine for 2015 increased compared with 2014 up 8% to 67.1 billion cubic meters By the end of 2016, the transit volume will reach 80 billion cubic meters In January-October 2016 the transit of gas has increased by 20% to 65.3 billion cubic meters. Ukraine is not buying gas directly from Russia.