Page 8 - FSUOGM Week 30 2021

FSUOGM PIPELINES & TRANSPORT FSUOGM

Kremlin says Russian open to gas

transit via Ukraine after 2024

RUSSIA RUSSIA is open to continuing natural gas tran- issue with some of the wording of the joint state-
sits via Ukraine after its current contract with ment, particularly its reference to “aggression”
Russia has never used Kyiv expires at the end of 2024, Kremlin spokes- by Russia.
energy resources as an man Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 22. “We categorically disagree with this wording,”
instrument of political Peskov was responding to a joint statement the spokesman said. “Neither in Ukraine nor
pressure, according to issued by Germany and the US on July 21, in elsewhere beyond its borders has there been any
the Kremlin. which they declared they would let Nord Stream aggression by Russia. Russia has not engaged in
2 go ahead but would punish Russia if it tried to any harmful actions.”
use the pipeline as a weapon. They also said they Russia has never used “energy resources as
would lobby for transit via Ukraine to continue an instrument of political pressure,” Peskov said,
beyond 2024, potentially for a further ten years. describing the country as “a responsible guaran-
While Moscow is prepared to continue tran- tor” of Europe’s energy security.
sits, Peskov said the Kremlin was waiting for Ukraine has also reacted badly to the deal
signals from Kyiv that it is willing to provide between Germany and the US, saying it does not
“economically acceptable conditions” for such sufficiently guarantee that Ukraine will continue
transits. Russia’s Gazprom has recently been transiting Russian gas, or protect its independ-
refusing additional transit capacity via Ukraine ence. In a joint statement with Poland’s govern-
beyond contractual volumes, complaining that ment, Ukrainian authorities said the US ending
the terms are not favourable enough. its opposition to Nord Stream 2 “has created a
While Peskov welcomed the consensus political, military and energy threat for Ukraine
reached between Germany and the US, it took and Central Europe.” ™

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 30 28•July•2021