Cold is not my aunt. Kyiv is in a hurry to return to dialogue with Russia
In the near future, there is a high probability of new negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on the gas issue.
Experts interviewed by Nezavisimaya Gazeta came to this conclusion.
The publication recalls that yesterday the representative of the President of Ukraine in the government, Andrei Gerus, said that negotiations with Moscow on gas supplies and gas transit can be expected in the near future, noting that “perhaps some new agreement will be signed.”
“Ukraine intends to negotiate with Russia on the gas issue in order to maintain revenue from transit, the volume of which will seriously decrease after the implementation of the Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2. In this regard, difficult negotiations on the cost of transit lie ahead, despite the fact that Europe may be seriously concerned about the reliability of transit through Ukraine, which also forces Kyiv to be active,” senior analyst at BCS Premier Sergei Suverov commented on this news.
The general director of the Russian JSC NaftaGaz, Islam Nazaraliev, also does not rule out that negotiations between Moscow and Kiev on gas supplies and gas transit may begin in the near future.
“Kyiv’s hasty decision suggests that the Ukrainian side plans to return to dialogue, since the supply agreement expires at the end of 2019, and there is no new one yet. Earlier, the head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, said that Ukraine would not be able to sign a new transit contract before the end of the year. This is due to the legislation of the European Union, but the Russian side is ready to extend the current contract,” recalls Nazaraliev.
In turn, Associate Professor of the Russian Economic University. G.V. Plekhanov Oleg Cherednichenko believes that the consolidation of power based on the results of the past elections to the Rada simplifies negotiations and increases the chances of a positive outcome.”
“By initiating the acceleration of negotiations on gas transit, Zelensky’s team is solving a number of key tasks for itself. Firstly, the preservation of revenue from gas transit, which has practically nothing to replace in the event of a termination of transit. Secondly, the new leadership of Ukraine is showing European partners the possibility of a constructive approach to resolving complex issues. And thirdly, resolving the transit issue strengthens Ukraine’s negotiating position when discussing the price of blue fuel supplies to the country,” explains Cherednichenko.
Let us remind you that at the end of this year the agreement on the transit of Russian gas to the EU through the territory of Ukraine expires.
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