Official: Russia, EU, Ukraine to discuss gas transit on Friday

BRUSSELS, Dec 8 (PRIME) -- The main subject of Friday’s meeting between the energy ministers of Russia, Ukraine, and the E.U. will be Russian natural gas transit through Ukraine to Europe this winter, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic told PRIME on Thursday.

“I can confirm that tomorrow we are having a meeting with Russian (Energy) Minister (Alexander) Novak and Ukrainian (Energy and Coal Industry) Minister (Igor) Nasalik with participation of representatives of two companies – Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy, and the goal is to be sure that we have safe and reliable gas transit this winter,” he said.

“We’ve decided that we will first discuss (different) issues, problems, expectations, and I think we will know more tomorrow.”

Russia may sell 1.5–4 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine this winter, Novak said in November.

Under the previous winter package, Naftogaz Ukrainy bought 2 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom for $500 million it borrowed with the help of the European Commission. Ukraine stopped purchasing Russian gas on November 25, 2015.

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