Gazprom offers Ukraine to extend gas contracts after 2019 without further consultations
The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin, after the completion of negotiations between Ukraine, the EU, and Russia in Brussels, stated that the Russian company Gazprom is ready to extend gas contracts after 2019 without even conducting expert consultations.
“Mr. Miller [ the Head of Gazprom] emphasized three times that they are ready to continue existing contracts. These contracts are probably a source of joy for them. At the same time, he said that these contracts could be extended even without any expert consultations,” said Klimkin.
“I tried to ask again, what he meant. He confirmed that he meant the contracts. Just, move forward,” added the minister.
Klimkin highlighted that Ukraine has a goal to transition from “contractual agreements to real contracts that will be based on European rules,” however, the Russian side does not consider that “Ukraine now follows other rules that reflect European legislation.”
The minister noted that during the negotiations, the European Commission and the Ukrainian side were acting in unison.
“Even the EU is now trying to figure Russia out, who does not want to listen to the fact that the rules have changed. However, the logic of Mr. Miller is simply to continue existing contracts. He said that this does not even require expert consultations,” explained the head of the Foreign Ministry.