Ukraine is ready to negotiate on extending the transit of Russian gas; its position on this issue completely coincides with the position of the European Commission, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The head of the board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andrey Kobolev wrote about this on his Facebook page today.
“New statements continue to arrive from the Russian Federation. Through the media (which is somewhat strange, since such proposals are usually provided in writing) they offer us: 1. “to nullify mutual claims” 2. Russian gas for direct deliveries is cheaper than for reverse deliveries,” Kobolev wrote.
Regarding the first point, he explained that the Russian side offers Naftogaz to “zero out” almost $3 billion under the Stockholm decision and abandon the claim for another $12 billion. In addition, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine is asked to waive a fine of about $7 billion.
“Together – 22 billion dollars – “understand and forgive.” I am looking for and do not find in the proposals voiced in the media, counter steps by Russia for comparable amounts. Is this what “nullifying” mutual claims looks like?” – complains the head of the board of Naftogaz.
Regarding the second point, he said that Russia is offering Ukraine to return to direct gas supplies from Russia and they promise a price that is 25% less than Ukraine now has from Europe.
“Under the current contract, we already have the right to buy Russian gas at the price of the German hub. Gazprom refuses to comply with this provision of the contract. Traditionally, Russian supplies, even with discounts for loyalty, for some reason are more expensive than purchases at competitive prices in Europe. This is illogical because Gazprom transports gas over a shorter distance. When the Stockholm arbitration corrected this price anomaly, Gazprom refused to supply gas,” said a top Ukrainian official.
“We are ready to negotiate on extending transit. Our position on this issue completely coincides with the position of the European Commission. Russia is against it, it is frightened by the “orgy in the Stockholm arbitration.” Of course, the decision of the most authoritative European arbitration court can be called a “bacchanalia,” but then a logical question arises: why was Gazprom the first to initiate two new trials against Naftogaz in the Stockholm arbitration court last year? We are ready for constructive cooperation to continue transit, but we will continue to persistently and effectively defend both national interests and the interests of Naftogaz,” Kobolev wrote.
Let us recall that earlier today, the press secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said that “the continued use of arbitration, the advancement of any claims in arbitration makes it virtually impossible to achieve any agreements” between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.