Minister says solution of Ukrainian gas transit problems possible

MOSCOW, Aug 21 (PRIME) -- It is possible to solve all problems with the transit of natural gas through Ukraine if no one politicizes these issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a news conference on Wednesday after a meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas.

“Regarding gas. Ukraine refused to buy our gas, it now buys our gas from Europe at prices 25–30% higher that it could have paid to us. Regarding the Nord Stream-2 project, it is purely a commercial project that will improve energy security of Europe and that was not created to hurt Ukraine in any way. Our Ukrainian colleagues know that, and the energy ministers and representatives of Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy have meetings,” he said.

“There is a c solution that may alleviate all concerns of the people who worry about the future of Ukraine, it is possible if no one tries to politicize the problem once again,” he said.

The current gas supply and transit contracts between Russia and Ukraine expire at the end of 2019. European Commission’s Vice President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said in June that he had agreed with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak to hold the next Russia–Ukraine–E.U. meeting in September.

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