Εμφάνιση αναρτήσεων με ετικέτα European Union. Εμφάνιση όλων των αναρτήσεων
Εμφάνιση αναρτήσεων με ετικέτα European Union. Εμφάνιση όλων των αναρτήσεων
Παρασκευή 11 Αυγούστου 2017
Health official calls for summit over tainted eggs; 2 arrested
Σάββατο 5 Αυγούστου 2017
Iran, EU Oppose Disintegration Plots in Syria, Iraq
Velayati made the remarks in Tehran on Saturday after a meeting with EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini.
Παρασκευή 13 Φεβρουαρίου 2015
EU failed to discuss Russia’s gas turn to Turkey in place of South Stream (Juncker)
Juncker said, however, that although the issue of the Russian natural gas deliveries via the abandoned South Stream pipeline project was raised at the summit, the participants failed to discuss subject.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on December 1, 2014 that the project to build the South Stream gas pipeline was closed due to the European Union’s unconstructive approach to cooperation in that sphere, including Bulgaria’s decision to stop the construction of the pipeline’s stretch on its territory.
Instead, Russia will build a gas pipeline to Turkey where a gas hub on the border with Europe will be created, Putin said.................http://tass.ru/en/economy/777375
13/2/15
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Πέμπτη 5 Φεβρουαρίου 2015
EU launches work on bloc energy union
The EC considered it "a fundamental step towards the completion of single energy market", and hoped this helps reform how Europe produces, transports and consumes energy.
The Energy Union with a Forward-looking Climate Change Policy is one of the key political priorities of the Juncker Commission, said the EC.
It also pointed out that the work for Energy Union is timely in that the EU imports 55 percent of its energy and 90 percent of the housing stock in Europe is energy inefficient.
"The Energy Union will be an ambitious project that will set a new direction and a clear long term vision for European energy and climate policy.... Effective implementation will be crucial, as will full and proper enforcement of existing legislation," said Miguel Arias Canete, EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy.
The Energy Union framework strategy is scheduled for adoption on February 25.
Xinhua - china.org.cn
5/2/15
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Παρασκευή 30 Ιανουαρίου 2015
EU to consider lifting fish import ban on Sri Lanka
The External Affairs Ministry said the decision was made following talks held between Sri Lanka and the European Commission.
Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, was in Brussels this week in an attempt to have the ban on Sri Lankan fish imports lifted.
Foreign Minister Samaraweera met Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and members of the European Parliament.
He also held talks with the European commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries and the European commissioner for international cooperation and development.
Discussions focused on strengthening Sri Lanka's relations with the European Union and Belgium, the steps Sri Lanka has taken and will take to comply with international fishing regulations and the process of requalifying for tariff concessions, the External Affairs Ministry said.
"During the fruitful meetings the European Commission offered Sri Lanka assistance in meeting the regulatory requirements that would enable an early lifting of the ban on fish exports to the EU and displayed strong interest in expanding socio-economic ties and development programmes," the Ministry said.
The EU had imposed the ban after Sri Lanka continued to violate international regulations on deep sea fishing.
Sri Lanka, under the previous government, was given time to remedy the situation before the ban took effect this month, but the government had failed to meet the requirements.
Source: Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
29-30/1/15
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Τετάρτη 28 Ιανουαρίου 2015
Russia’s Gazprom cancels plans to expand Nord Stream (Sources)
“The political situation is currently complicated. We were not allowed access to OPAL (gas pipeline in Germany). Why build two more arms? We are not building them,” one source told Reuters.
Gazprom said last year it could increase the pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea to Germany with a line that would go to Britain, but a second source confirmed Gazprom currently had no plans to extend the pipeline to Britain.
Nord Stream consists of two pipes with an annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters, enough to supply around 10 percent of the European Union’s annual gas needs.
The construction of two more pipes would have doubled Nord Stream capacity.
- Currently Nord Stream is running at around half its capacity because Gazprom is allowed only limited access to the Opal pipeline which runs through Germany to the Czech Republic and connects to Nord Stream.
The Russian company has so far failed to secure greater access, with talks complicated by tensions between the EU and Russia over the Ukraine crisis. In November, the EU pushed back a deadline for deciding on Russian access to Opal until the end of January.
Last year, Russia also scrapped its South Stream pipeline project over disagreements with the EU.
Instead, Gazprom said it planned to build a pipeline across the Black Sea towards Turkey, bypassing Ukraine as a transit route to Europe.
Gazprom was not available for immediate comment.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/russias-gazprom-cancels-plans-to-expand-nord-stream-sources.aspx?pageID=238&nID=77584&NewsCatID=348
28/1/15
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Δευτέρα 19 Ιανουαρίου 2015
Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine and EU uninterrupted (Ukraine's Naftogaz)
"The information circulating in the media that Russian gas has stopped going to the EU through Ukraine dates back to 2009 and has nothing to do with the current situation. As of 2015, there were no breaks in Russian gas deliveries to the Ukraine GTS," the statement said.
The CEO of Russia's Gazprom gas giant said in mid-January that risks persist for gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine as the latter falied to import the necessary ammounts of natural gas in November and December due to financial difficulties.
Earlier reports said Ukraine imported 572.2 million cubic meters of Russian gas in the first two weeks of January. Besides direct supplies from Russia, Ukraine gets reverse gas supplies from Slovakia and Hungary.................http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/77188319/1/15
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Τετάρτη 24 Δεκεμβρίου 2014
Ukraine’s Naftogaz transfers $1.65 bln to Russia’s Gazprom under Brussels agreements
Thus, in line with the agreements reached in Brussels, Naftogaz has paid 3.1 billion U.S. dollars in two tranches to pay for 11.5 billion cubic metres of gas supplied by Gazprom in November-December 2013 and April-June 2014. The first tranche of 1.45 billion U.S. dollars was transferred on November 4.
In October, Gazprom and Naftogaz reached an agreement to resume Russian gas supplies to Ukraine on condition Naftogaz repays its 3.1 billion U.S. dollar debt. In early December, Naftogaz made an advance payment for gas supplies in December.
[itar-tass.com]
24/12/14
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Τρίτη 23 Δεκεμβρίου 2014
Russia to Halt Gas Sales to Ukraine if Kiev Fails to Repay $1.65Bln
"Under the agreement, there will be no supplies in January if the debt of $1.65 billion remains unsettled," the minister said.
Novak said the price of Russian gas for Ukraine is estimated to range between $340 and $360 per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter of 2015.
"Our [previous] discussions in the month of October were based on price forecast of $360. At the moment, the price may be lower… I think, [it will be at] $340-$360," he said.
The Minister said that after the discount of $100 per 1,000 cubic meters, granted by Russia's Gazprom to Ukraine's Naftogaz, expires on April 1, the price of Russian gas to Ukraine will amount to about $440. According to Novak, Moscow is ready to consider a request for a new discount, but so far Ukrainian authorities have not asked for it.
After a six-month break, Russia resumed gas sales to Ukraine on December 9. A temporary agreement between Moscow and Kiev, in force during the cold season, stipulates that Ukraine should repay $3.1 billion of its $5.3-billion gas debt.
Ukraine's state-run oil and gas company Naftogaz repaid $1.45 billion of its gas debt to Gazprom in early December and allocated $378 million as prepayment for future supplies of 1 billion cubic meters of gas.
On Monday Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchishin told journalists that Ukraine so far has purchased some 300 million cubic meters of Russian gas under the so-called "winter package."
On the same day in an interview on Rossiya-24 television Novak expressed hope that Russia and Ukraine will continue their cooperation in gas deliveries even after the ten-year contract on gas transit and supply between Gazprom and Naftogaz expires in 2019.
[sputniknews.com]
23/12/14
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Τετάρτη 17 Δεκεμβρίου 2014
Bulgaria to send delegation to Moscow to discuss South Stream (reports)
“Bulgaria never intended to give up on the South Stream project and would like to hear the official position of the Russian Energy minister on it,” he is quoted as saying. He also said that the pipeline could be brought in line with the EU regulations, although it remains unclear to what extent Russia is willing to do so, given that EU rules were one of the main obstacles cited by Russian president Vladimir Putin when he announced the project’s cancellation in Ankara on December 1.
It is unclear, also, whether Russia has agreed on holding such a meeting, with Russian news agency Itar-Tass reporting on December 17, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation, that Russian energy minister Alexander Novak was still deliberating on the issue of a meeting..........http://sofiaglobe.com/2014/12/17/bulgaria-to-send-delegation-to-moscow-to-discuss-south-stream-reports/
17/12/14
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Agreement over EU fishing quotas for 2015
However, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said he is relieved to have delivered a much improved outcome.
The prawn quota has been increased by 3%, while the hake quota has also seen an 11% increase.
However, quotas for haddock and whiting have both been reduced by 12%, with a 13% reduction in cod quota.
Mr Coveney said the quotas which have now been agreed will be worth €123m to Irish whitefish fishermen next year, which is a small increase on this year.
The Minister said that an initiative from the Irish fishing industry to use new fishing gear that will allow more young fish to escape and reduce discards of haddock and whiting into the Celtic Sea by 4,000 tonnes per year greatly assisted in getting the sever EU proposed cuts reduced.
Fishermen’s representatives have described the outcome from the talks as disappointing.
Caitlin Uí Aodha, who represents fishermen in the south-east, said that the quota cuts in the Celtic Sea would only result in more discarding of fish at sea.
She added that these reductions will put further pressure on fishermen who are already finding it difficult to make a living.
Sean O'Donoghue, chairman of the Federation of Irish Fishermen, said that a zero quota for herring of the north-west was concerning and must be revisited in the New Year as it was unnecessary.He also said that the current quota management structure was “not fit for purpose” and called for a decommissioning scheme to reduce the numbers of boats at sea.
[rte.ie]
16/12/14
Πέμπτη 11 Δεκεμβρίου 2014
Bulgaria ready to place gas hub for European consumers
“We can build a gas storage facility in Varna, where /South Stream/ pipes were to come out of the Black Sea. The European Commission, under the plan /of its President Jean-Claude/ Juncker, may finance the construction of a liquefied gas storage facility. It will be filled there and pumped from there to Europe,” Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said. “The European Commission will sponsor this hub. We make a distribution centre of the Energy Union in Varna, and we are number one in terms of diversification. It is not in the interests of Turkey or Greece, or any other country. It is in our interests and in the interests of the European Union, and we must solve this problem. We offer the European Commission and the entire Europe a perfect option of placing a gas hub in Bulgaria, not in Turkey.”
Borisov instructed the ministers to notify all parties concerned about this initiative.
On December 1, after the talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready not only extend the Blue Stream pipeline but also to build another pipeline system to satisfy Turkey’s growing demand and to build a gas hub at the border between Turkey and Greece to pump gas to Southern Europe.
On the same day, the Russian leader said that in current conditions Russia would not implement the South Stream project. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said the project was no longer topical. “The project is closed, and that’s it,” he told journalists, commenting on the results of the top-level Russia-Turkey talks.
The South Stream project estimated at 15.5 billion euro was meant to supply 67 billion cubic metres of gas a year. Now, the capacity of the Blue Stream gas pipeline that runs across the bottom of the Black Sea to Turkey is 16 billion cubic metres of gas a year. Turkey has repeatedly offered Russia to use its territory as a starting point for gas supplies to Europe.
http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/766323
11/12/14
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Πέμπτη 4 Δεκεμβρίου 2014
South Stream pipeline can be built (European Commission)
South Stream can be built, Juncker said after a meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
Borisov shared the EC president’s view. “We are in favour of South Stream. We want South Stream to be built in compliance with the EU legislation,” he said.
Borisov said the energy ministers of the countries participating in the South Stream gas project would meet in Brussels on December 9.
“The preparations were not stopped. It was scheduled that the South Stream energy ministers would meet on December 9. This meeting will be held and I hope that it will settle problems, including on the Third Energy Package,” Borisov said.
- Meanwhile, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Russia’s decision to stop the South Stream gas project is final.
4/12/14
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Παρασκευή 21 Νοεμβρίου 2014
Reducing use of plastic bags: MEPs strike deal with Council Presidency
"This is an historic moment for all of Europe. For the first time ever we have agreed on ambitious measures to reduce the amount of plastic bag waste in the environment. This is good news for the environment and all Europeans who expected the EU to take ambitious action on plastic bags”, said Margrete Auken (Greens/EFA, DK), who is steering the legislation through Parliament.
“As front-running countries have demonstrated, dramatically reducing the consumption of these disposable bags is easily achievable with a consistent policy. Swiftly phasing out these bags is a readily-implementable solution to the pervasive problem of plastic waste in the environment", she added.
“We are satisfied with the green light for this important dossier” said Environment Committee chair Giovanni La Via (EPP, IT).
“The European Commission’s new approach demonstrates an important sense of responsibility. We called upon the Commission to act as a real facilitator between the two legislative institutions. Parliament and Council have done a good job for the Environment and the European citizens”, he added.
Reduction targets
If the rules come into force, member states would be able to choose between two policy options: to either take measures to ensure that average yearly consumption of these bags does not exceed, on 90 lightweight bags per citizen by 2019 and 40 by 2025, or alternatively, ensure that, by 2018, they are not handed to shoppers free of charge.
The European Commission would have to evaluate the impact on the environment of oxo-degradable plastic materials, which fragment into small particles, and propose measures accordingly.
Next steps
The agreement between the EP delegation and the Italian Presidency will be put to a vote in the Environment Committee on Monday 24 November in Strasbourg.
Background
Lightweight plastic bags thinner than 50 microns – the vast majority of plastic carrier bags used in the EU – are less reusable than thicker models and become waste more quickly. They are also more prone to litter the environment.
In 2010 every EU citizen used an estimated 198 plastic carrier bags, some 90% of which were lightweight. In a business-as-usual scenario, consumption of plastic bags is expected to grow further. Estimates also suggest that over eight billion plastic carrier bags became litter in the EU in 2010.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20141121IPR79835/
21/11/14
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Τετάρτη 5 Νοεμβρίου 2014
EU to Continue Financial Aid Provision for Ukraine's Gas Debt Repayment (Official)
"Our aid reaches billion euros, including what we have already given and will give [to Ukraine]. We have been helping to reach a treaty between Russia and Ukraine on the whole range of complex gas issues. And we will allocate the amounts that will be needed to pay off [debts for] gas," Ushatskas told Ekho Moskvy radio.
According to him, the European Union and Russia share common interests in stabilizing the situation in Ukraine.
"Neither Russia, nor the European Commission, nor the IMF should be some kind of 'auntie' that would care for Ukraine all the time... Of course, this requires internal political, economic and social reforms for Ukraine not to be proclaimed as the most corrupt political system. On this basis the European Union highlights the unprecedented volumes of aid to Ukraine," Ushatskas added.
Ukraine's state oil and gas company Naftogaz said Tuesday that it had transferred the first tranche of $1.45 billion of its gas debt to Russia.
The final round of gas talks on October 30 between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by the European Union, ended with the signing of the so-called winter package agreement securing gas supplies to Ukraine until March.
Under the agreement, Russia will resume its delivery of gas to Ukraine at a price of $378 per 1,000 cubic meters till the end of 2014 and $365 for the same amount in the first quarter of 2015, while Kiev must pay Gazprom $3.1 billion of its debt to the company before the end of the year.
Gazprom switched Ukraine to a prepayment system for gas deliveries over its debt of more than $5 billion in June.(RIA Novosti)
5/11/14
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Παρασκευή 31 Οκτωβρίου 2014
Russia Ukraine and EU agree gas supply deal (Günther H. Oettinger /EC)
From the Official Website of the European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 30 October 2014:
"After seven rounds of gas negotiations, last night's talks moderated by Günther H. Oettinger, Vice-President of the European Commission, yielded finally a breakthrough: A 4,6 billion dollar winter package, agreed by Russia and Ukraine, secures gas for Ukraine - and ultimately also for Europe.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission who witnessed today's signing of the winter package, said: "I am delighted that I can announce a major success at the end of my mandate as President of the European Commission. With our strong support, Ukraine and Russia have today found agreement on their outstanding energy debt issues, and on an interim solution that enables supplies to continue this winter. I am glad that political responsibility, the logic of cooperation and simple economic sense have prevailed."
Günther H. Oettinger, Vice-President of the European Commission, said: "This breakthrough will not only make sure that Ukraine will have sufficient heating in the dead of the winter. It is also a contribution to the de-escalation between Russia and Ukraine."
The winter package consists of two documents:
- A binding protocol, signed by the European Commission (Vice-President Oettinger), the Russian Federation (Energy Minister Alexander Novak) and Ukraine (Energy Minister Yuri Prodan);
- An addendum to the existing gas supply contract, signed by Gazprom of Russia (CEO Alexey Miller) and Naftogaz of Ukraine (CEO Andriy Kobolyev);
The package covers the period from now until the end of March 2015 and includes the following main points:
- Debts: Ukraine would settle its debts based on a preliminary price of $268,5/ 1000m3 by making payments in two tranches: 1,45 billion dollar without delay, and 1,65 billion dollar by the end of the year 2014. This adds in total up to 3,1 billon dollar of debt payment. The final price and thus the final sum of debt will be determined through the pending arbitration by the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce between Gazprom and Naftogaz.
- New gas: Russia will deliver gas following advanced, monthly payments by Ukraine. The price is below $385/ 1000m3 and calculated according to a formula in the present contract and a price reduction through a discount in export duties by the Russian Federation. Ukraine is free to order as much gas as it needs and is not subject to take-or-pay obligations foreseen in the current contract. Ukraine foresees to purchase 4 bcm until the end of the year 2014, meaning 1,5 billion dollar.
In the last weeks, the European Commission has been working intensively with the International Financial Institutions (IFI) and Ukraine to help Ukraine prepay for deliveries of gas in the coming winter. Unprecedented levels of EU aid will be disbursed in a timely manner, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reassured Ukraine that it can use all financial means at its disposal to pay for gas. Further work with the IFIs on financial assistance to Ukraine, also in relation to gas supplies, will still continue, but all three sides are reassured that Ukraine will have the necessary financial means."
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-1238_en.htm?locale=en
30/10/14
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Πέμπτη 30 Οκτωβρίου 2014
Gazprom CEO: No gas agreement to be signed until Ukraine, EU agree on financial guarantees
He said three documents had been prepared for signing at the tripartite gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union. According to Miller, these documents are two protocols: a protocol in a trilateral format between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission and a bilateral protocol between the European Commission and Ukraine.
“Everything concerning financial issues, concerning guarantees the European Commission is to issue to Ukraine, these liabilities will be committed to paper in a bilateral protocol,” he said. “As for out trilateral protocol, all principal provisions of this trilateral document have been agreed. A technical supplement to the contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz has also been agreed.”
“Today, the talks ended with the sides taking a break till tomorrow. But the meeting, the talks will take place only in case the Ukrainian side and the European Commission reach an agreement on that bilateral protocol,” Miller said. “If there is no such agreement, naturally, there will be no meetings, no talks tomorrow and no documents will be signed. If Ukraine and the European Commission ultimately reach an agreement, hence, these three document might be signed tomorrow - two protocols and a supplement to the contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz. Everything that concerns our documents where Russia is the side, where Gazprom is the side, all these issues have by now been agreed........................http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/757272
30/10/14
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Τετάρτη 29 Οκτωβρίου 2014
Ukraine, Russia tackle gas crisis as tensions spike
The latest negotiations in Brussels come a day after Russia stirred tensions with its war-torn neighbor further by announcing plans to recognize the disputed leadership polls pro-Kremlin insurgents in eastern Ukraine intend to stage on Sunday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's comments drew a sharp rebuke from US Secretary of State John Kerry and coincided with a decision by EU leaders to keep sanctions in place against Moscow for its alleged meddling in Ukraine.
The former Soviet nation staged its own general election on Sunday that saw pro-European forces score a decisive victory at the expense of parties that once backed closer ties with Russia but now prefer to tread a more centrist course....................AFP......................http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/889055.shtml
29/10/14
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Τρίτη 28 Οκτωβρίου 2014
EU energy commissioner, Ukraine energy minister discuss forthcoming tripartite gas talks
According to TASS information, the sides discussed issues of financial guarantees to Ukraine to pay for Russian gas supplies in November-December 2014.
The spokesman however refused to elaborate whether any agreement on that matter had been reached, saying only that preparatory work for the tripartite talls was underway.
After the previous tripartite gas talks in Brussels on October 21, Oettinger admitted that Ukraine needed from one to two billion U.S. dollars to be able to pay for Russian gas.
Kiev has already asked Brussels to issue short-term loans worth two billion euro but the European Commission has not yet confirmed whether that sum would be offered or not, noting that this issue would be subject of consultations in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund
[itar-tass.com]
28/10/14
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Παρασκευή 24 Οκτωβρίου 2014
Russia submits draft gas agreement to EU, Ukraine
“I gave the draft trilateral protocol agreement to our partners in Ukraine and the EU on October 21, it is under their consideration,” Novak said. “I do not have the information on what proposals our partners in negotiations are discussing. They have promised to speak them out at trilateral consultations on October 29,” Novak said.
On October 17, Russia and Ukraine agreed on the gas price of US $385 per 1,000 cubic meters for the winter and Ukraine repaying at least $1.4 billion of its gas debt before the supplies restart, however no agreement had been signed during the previous trilateral gas talks on Tuesday, as Kiev has no money to fully repay the debt.
On Tuesday, Vice President of the European Commission Gunther Oettinger said the EU will soon discuss additional short-term financial aid to Ukraine to help the country repay its gas debt.
Novak said that Russia is ready to sign a new gas agreement with Ukraine as soon as the EU provides financial guarantees for the repayment of the debt and advanced payment for further supplies.
Ukraine needs Russia to sign a legally binding document to set a fixed and unchangeable price for gas, Energy Minister Yury Prodan said.
http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/756292
24/10/14
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Europe should respond to Ukraine’s statement on gas transit guarantees. ("Ukraine grants itself the right to steal Russian gas intended for European consumers")
Novak: EU must undertake to guarantee Ukraine’s payment of debts for Russian gas
Russia doubts the legality of reverse gas supplies to Ukraine, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday....
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