Gazprom to continue technical gas talks with Ukraine from Monday

MOSCOW/KIEV, Dec 2 (PRIME) -- Russia and Ukraine discussed technical issues gas transit from 2020 on November 29 and will continue the work this week, Russian gas giant Gazprom said in a statement on November 29.

“The negotiations were held at the expert level with participation of representatives of Gazprom and Ukraine’s Gas Transport System Operator. The sides discussed technical issues of the Russian gas transit conditions to Europe starting from 2020,” Gazprom said.

Deputy Energy Minister of Ukraine Alexei Orzhel told channel Ukraine that there was progress during the negotiations. “We have indeed made steps forward… The aspects where compromise can be found were discovered, and there are aspects where we must search for them,” he said.

Ukrainian energy holding Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Yury Vitrenko told channel Ukraine that the company was ready to consider Gazprom’s proposals on repayment of a U.S. $3 billion debt and discuss the amount of compensation for Ukraine to withdraw a $12.2 billion case.

“Let’s consider the possibilities of how we, Naftogaz, whose end beneficiary is the people of Ukraine, will receive $3 billion, in what form, and what compensation we will get if you (Gazprom) wants us to withdraw the claiming rights for $12.2 billion, what compensation we will receive,” he said.

According to Vitrenko, payment for the debt with gas proposed by Naftogaz Ukrainy on November 25 could cover at least a year’s need for fuel imports to Ukraine.

According to Vitrenko, Naftogaz Ukrainy had difficulties with forced debt reclaim in the $3 billion case in Germany, Poland and Moldova.

End