Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraine uses Russian gas in transit to Europe.
Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraine’s consumption of Russian gas is linked to Gazprom’s obligations to Europe. According to him, Ukraine receives money for transit while consuming Russian gas.
“Gazprom fulfils all its obligations, including transit through Ukraine, but we also receive money, of course. Ukraine receives money for transit, as if we do not supply gas to Ukraine, but in fact they consume our gas,” the Russian head of state said at the press conference “Results of the year”.
The Russian president stressed that the scheme of transit through Ukraine was arranged back in Soviet times, and thanks to the arrangement of the gas pipeline, the former Soviet republic can consume Russian gas.
“As soon as our gas entered the territory of Ukraine, it immediately disperses throughout the country, spreads out, and what Ukraine accumulated over the summer period in UGS on its western border, it goes there [to Europe], as if it comes directly from Gazprom, and thus fulfil obligations to consumers,” – said Vladimir Putin.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Hungarian government to consider ways to bring trade relations between the countries back to growth.