Russia wants to sign short-term gas deal with Ukraine
The Russian authorities want to strike a short-term deal with Kyiv on gas transit to Europe when the current ten-year agreement expires in order to buy time to complete pipelines that will bypass Ukraine, Reuters has reported, citing four sources familiar with Russian thinking.
"Ukraine is looking for a long-term, 10-year deal. It's not beneficial for us. A one-year deal would be OK so we would build up our strength and launch all those 'streams' (Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream)," one of the four sources said.
According to the report, a European Union source and two other Russian sources familiar with Gazprom's thinking confirmed Moscow's stance.
The EU, which is mediating gas talks between the two sides, has invited both parties to a new round of discussions on September 16, sources close to the matter said.
The second source familiar with Russian thinking said an extension of the current contract for a short period would be the "optimal option" amid Kyiv's push to reform its gas system.
The contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine lapses on December 31, 2019.
Naftogaz said that at upcoming negotiations, it would propose that Russia transport 60 billion cubic meters of gas annually within ten years. According to Yuriy Vitrenko, the company's executive director, this proposal was agreed upon with European partners, and it is based on a European approach to the formation of transit tariffs.
Negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the European Union on a new Russian gas transit contract are likely to take place in September.
Source: ukrinform