Gas negotiations: Moscow talks about constructiveness, gunpowder robots scream about “zrada”
For the first time in a long time, trilateral consultations in Brussels on the issue of gas supplies from Russia to Ukraine next year were held constructively and “in working order.”
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak announced this following the negotiations, PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“We discussed a lot of issues, specific ones related, first of all, to gas supplies to Ukraine. We believe that this is a very important issue to talk about gas transit and the volumes that will be available from January 1, 2020.
We also discussed the issue regarding the regulation of relations under the Stockholm arbitration and the decisions that were made by the Stockholm court. In order for us to once again outline our position before January 1, 2020, it is necessary to settle the zero option within the framework of a settlement agreement, since court proceedings and appeals will continue for a long time,” said the head of the energy department.
At the same time, the minister noted that the Ukrainian side also “took up” a proposal for direct gas supplies from the Russian Federation to the territory of Ukraine, however, final decisions on the possible abandonment of the reverse supply system, volumes and tariffs will be made during commercial negotiations between operating companies.
At the same time, at a press conference held in Kiev, the President of the Ukrainian Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI” Mikhail Gonchar said that bilateral gas negotiations with Russia and direct purchases from Gazprom are two “red lines” that Ukraine has no right to cross.
“Today’s meeting, which is to be held in Brussels, in a trilateral format on gas negotiations, will largely be indicative. Of course, the Russian side will demonstrate a certain “constructivism”..., proposing the so-called compromises to start with a clean slate - and here the results of these negotiations will be interesting, which, in my opinion, should not come down to, as Western partners say, that “we welcome bilateral Ukrainian-Russian negotiations, where all issues will be resolved at a high level.”
In my opinion, if we take the gas format - no bilateral negotiations until Gazprom pays Naftogaz $3 billion in arbitration, no negotiations on direct purchases of Russian gas - what Gazprom is now proposing is imposing and his lobby is here as long as the occupation of Ukrainian territories continues. No direct purchases!
These are two clear red lines for possible bilateral gas relations, because someone, I see, considers them quite possible, and they will push us from both the east and the west - meaning European partners,” said Gonchar.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.