21 May 2014
The Russian side is not demonstrating its readiness to negotiate on the issues on supply of natural to Ukraine and its transit to EU countries, Ukrainian Prime Minster Arseniy Yatsenyk wrote in his appeal to EU leaders on May 20, according to a government press-release. All the previous talks with the Russian side on the issue were fruitless, according to Yatsenuyk. He re-iterated Ukraine’s position that price for Russian gas for Ukraine should be USD 268.5/tcm in 2Q14. He further confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to fully repay all the accumulated debt for gas supplies in ten days after this price offer is accepted.
Yatsenyk also reported that Gazprom’s response to Ukrainian pre-arbitration note (of April 28 that demands revision of the gas contract) was negative. He stated that Ukraine is ready to sue Gazprom if it fails to meet its demands by the end of the month. The Prime Minister also repeated his earlier offer to EU leaders to start buying Russian gas at the Russian/Ukrainian border.
Alexander Paraschiy: After the meeting of the EU and Russian Energy Minsters on May 19, it looked like a chance for compromise between Ukraine and Russia on gas issues was higher than before. The appeal of Yatsenyk indicates the probability of an early compromise is still low. At present, Ukraine is not ready to repay any debt for Russian gas, as the EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger tried to offer a day before. All hopes are again related to some mutual talks between the EU and Russian sides, who are more interested in solving Ukraine’s gas issue than Ukraine is.