Russia prepares to sign 5-year gas transit agreement with Ukraine
A Gazprom spokesman announced earlier that Russia and Ukraine had signed a protocol on the agreement to continue gas transit through Ukrainian territory.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said on December 20 that Russia's Gazprom Group and Ukraine's Naftogaz will sign a new five-year agreement to transport Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine.
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| Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. Photo: President of Russia |
The two sides are expected to sign the Contract before the end of 2019. The current agreement expires after December 31. A Gazprom spokesman previously announced that Russia and Ukraine had signed a protocol on the agreement to continue gas transit through Ukraine.
Recent disagreements between the two neighbors have hampered the signing of the new deal. Gazprom supplies more than 36% of the European Union's gas market and the EU is concerned that Russian gas supplies via Ukraine could be stopped.
The European Commission has repeatedly mediated the talks, so that Russia and Ukraine could reach a new Gas Agreement, ensuring no disruptions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia wants to move towards a new gas transit agreement with Ukraine, with conditions that benefit both sides./.
