Gazprom invoiced Ukraine for $13 billion
Kyiv, April 24 (Navigator, Mikhail Ryabov) - The Russian monopolist Gazprom billed Ukraine for $11,4 billion for gas shortages in 2013 - the current contract stipulates that Kiev is obliged to purchase certain volumes of fuel, but the Ukrainian side has reduced purchases, explaining this by the high price and Moscow’s refusal to reconsider the terms of supply.
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Naftogaz was supposed to select 41,6 billion cubic meters of gas, but selected only 12,9 billion cubic meters, Reuters clarifies.
It should be noted that Russia issued an invoice for gas shortages last year, but the matter never came to court proceedings - then Moscow forgave the debt, apparently within the framework of political agreements with Viktor Yanukovych.
Now, in addition to the fine for gas shortages, the Russian Federation is demanding $2,2 billion from Ukraine for supplies made this year, 2014.
On April 17, Vladimir Putin said that Russia would give Ukraine a month to repay the debt, and then it would exercise the right to make supplies only upon prepayment - only in the amount that would be paid.
If prepayment is introduced, this will jeopardize gas supplies to Europe through the territory of Ukraine, energy market expert Valentin Zemlyansky (Kyiv) told Navigator.
“Such a reaction from the Russian president was quite expected. Ukraine cannot receive free gas indefinitely. Moreover, without even trying to start the negotiation process in a constructive manner. There is no doubt that prepayment actually means a stop in Russian gas supplies to Ukraine. This, in turn, threatens the transit of European gas, since Ukraine will begin to take gas from the pipeline, which is intended for European consumers. Otherwise, the operation of the entire Ukrainian energy system is jeopardized, which will not be able to use maneuverable capacities for electricity production,” Zemlyansky said.
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