Ukraine, which has few energy resources of its own, relies heavily on gas imports from Russia. At the same time, Ukraine has been a major transit country for Russian gas supplies to Europe. Ukraine has been embroiled in several gas rows with Russia in the past few years over gas siphoning and gas prices, occasionally interrupting supplies to Europe, which gets around a quarter of its gas from Russia.
In early 2009, Russia halted all deliveries via Ukraine's pipeline system for two weeks after the two nations failed to agree a price for Russia’s gas deliveries to Ukraine. The gas deal that was eventually signed later that year tied the price for Russian gas to international oil prices, which have since risen significantly, boosting Ukraine's bill.
An intergovernmental Russian-Ukrainian commission will convene in Moscow on Tuesday amid anti-government protests in Ukraine.
“The sides have come to an agreement that it’s time to settle the [gas price] issue. We didn’t ask for discounts, we discussed only European-level [gas] prices and I hope we would finally resolve this issue during the meeting,” Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in an interview with Ukraine’s Inter TV.
- He also said his country was ready to resume talks with Russia about creating a gas transport consortium with the involvement of European partners to manage and modernize Ukraine's dilapidated gas pipeline network.
"Another issue of extreme importance for is the resumption of talks about the three-party consortium involving Europe and providing absolutely transparent terms for [gas] transit via Ukraine and for management of our pipeline network,” Azarov said.
Kiev and Moscow discussed the possibility of a three-party consortium back in the early 2000's. However, when West-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko came to power in Ukraine, the project was put on hold. The Ukrainian authorities said at the time that leasing out the gas transport network would jeopardize Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukraine’s refusal to consider a gas consortium prompted Russia to launch the Nord Stream and South Stream gas pipeline projects to pump natural gas directly to European consumers, bypassing transit states.
Ukraine’s first deputy premier, Sergei Arbuzov, said the Russian-Ukrainian deals to be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting will be directed “solely at improving our country’s economic security” and none of them envisages the country’s accession to the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.
ria.ru
15/12/13
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Related:
Ρωσία-Ουκρανία: Τριβές για το χρέος και την προσέγγιση με την ΕΕ
Medvedev: Ukraine underestimates the gravity of the situation with overdue payments for Russian gas.
Senior Duma deputy warns Ukraine of ‘semicolonial dependence’ behind EU deal. -Moscow would have to protect its markets in case Ukraine enters an association agreement with the EU.-Vladimir Putin .
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Russia, Ukraine to sign hefty package of papers after intergov’t session on Dec 17 ....
ReplyDeleteThe December 17 session of the Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission in Moscow will be chaired by the two presidents, Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin press service reports. It says the session is expected to consider the most pressing aspects of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, coordinate joint steps to promote promising mutually-beneficial projects, primarily in energy, transport, space, farming, investment and regional cooperation.
"Serious attention is supposed to be paid to the development of a dialogue in the cultural, educational and scientific spheres. Interaction within the framework of the CIS and pressing international problems are also on the agenda," the press service says.
"An impressive package of bilateral documents is expected to be signed at the end of the session," the report says.
IMF to consider financial aid to Ukraine, while Yanukovych heads to Russia to negotiate with Putin
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet on Monday, December 16, to consider financial aid to Ukraine as the country balances on the brink of a fiscal crisis. The terms put forward by the IMF are spending cuts, the flexible exchange rate of the hryvna and higher gas tariffs for the population. Right after that, on December 17, Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovych heads to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin and to participate in the Russian-Ukrainian interstate commission session.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet on Monday, December 16, to consider financial aid to Ukraine as the country balances on the brink of a fiscal crisis. The terms put forward by the IMF are spending cuts, the flexible exchange rate of the hryvna and higher gas tariffs for the population.
Ukraine hopes to obtain $15 billion in IMF loans which it desperately needs to bolster its economy and meet its debt liabilities. Earlier, President Viktor Yanykovych rejected as unacceptable calls for radical macroeconomic reforms being pressed on him by the IMF.
Tuesday, December 17, Yanukovych and Russian President Vladimir Putin will chair a session of the Russian-Ukrainian interstate commission in Moscow. A package of bilateral documents has been prepared for signing. The meeting will take place amid ongoing pro-European integration protests in Ukraine which have entered their third week, hampering the normal functioning of the central power in Kiev.
Yesterday, the European Union suspended talks on an association agreement with Ukraine after accusing the Ukrainian government of being reluctant to negotiate. The United States has threatened the Yanukovych government with sanctions. The opposition is meantime shifting attention from demands to bring those responsible for the brutal breakup of protests to account to preventing the “sale” of Ukraine during Yanukovych’s visit to Moscow. As the West-backed opposition remains defiant, it appears to be a deadlock situation for Yanukovych.
Ukraine situation to be discussed at EU December 19-20 summit
The situation around Ukraine will be discussed at the European Union summit on December 19-20, a diplomat of an East European country said in the run-up to a meeting of the EU foreign ministers on the results of the outgoing year that is opening here on Monday.......http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_12_16/Russia-Ukraine-to-sign-hefty-package-of-papers-after-intergov-t-session-on-Dec-17-1057/
16/12/13
Putin, Yanukovich to hold interstate commission 6th session...
ReplyDeleteMOSCOW, December 16. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian-Ukraine interstate commission will gather in Moscow on December 17 under chairmanship of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich, the Kremlin press service reported on Monday.
“During the sitting, the parties are expected to discuss key issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, coordinate joint steps towards promoting promising mutually advantageous projects in such areas as energy, transport, space, agriculture, investments and interregional cooperation,” the report says.
Special attention is expected to be riveted to the development of a cultural, educational and scientific dialogue. The meeting will touch on cooperation within the CIS and key international issues, the report says.
“A package of documents is expected to be signed after the session,” it adds.
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/711661
16/12/13
Lawrow: Außenminister der EU und Russlands auf Achtung der Souveränität Kiews einig...
ReplyDeleteDie Außenminister der Europäischen Union und Russlands haben sich laut Russlands Außenamtschef Sergej Lawrow auf die Achtung der Souveränität beliebiger Länder, darunter auch der Ukraine, geeinigt.
Die Völker seien dazu berechtigt, über den Entwicklungsweg ihrer Staaten selber zu entscheiden, sagte Lawrow am Montag in Brüssel nach Abschluss eines Treffens mit seinen EU-Amtskollegen.
http://de.ria.ru/politics/20131216/267487513.html
16/12/13