The EC believes that Kiev should return to gas purchases of the Russian Federation in the amount of about 15 billion cubic meters per year.
“The European Commission recommended that from 2020 return to direct purchases of Russian gas in the amount of about 15 billion cubic meters per year in order to reduce the cost of reverse purchases of the same gas”, – he said. The agency’s interlocutor explained that a return to direct procurement would increase Russia’s interest in using the Ukrainian gas transportation system to pump gas to Europe, as well as reduce tension on the issue of gas tariffs. According to him, the Ukrainian side is trying to compensate for the additional costs that Kiev incurs in connection with the refusal of direct supplies by increasing tariffs for pumping Russian gas.
The source refused to comment on the Russian demand to withdraw all mutual claims of Gazprom and Naftogaz, as well as to refuse to comply with court decisions already made.
In turn, the “Naftogaz Ukrainy” company has denied information that the EC recommended that Kiev from 2020 directly purchase natural gas from Russia.
Earlier, the European Commission proposed holding the second technical meeting of experts from Russia, Ukraine and the EU on November 19 to prepare the next round of ministerial tripartite consultations on gas, due in late November. However, none of the parties confirmed the technical meeting.