Gazprom: gas supplies to Ukraine can stop in two days

There's 219 million cubic meters of Russian gas left that Ukraine has prepaid for, no new prepayments have been submitted yet, Russian gas giant Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller told journalists on Tuesday.
According to Miller, supplying 114 million cubic meters of natural gas to Ukraine will lead to cessation of deliveries which will jeopardize natural gas supplies to Europe.

On Monday Ukraine's Naftogaz claimed that Russia had breached the agreements reached in Brussels by no supplying the prepaid ammounts of gas to Ukraine..............http://tass.ru/en/economy/77927524/2/15
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Related:

• Russia's Gazprom said on Feb. 24 there were "serious" risks to gas transit to Europe via Ukraine after Kyiv failed to make a pre-payment.

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• Ukraine’s Naftogaz sues Gazprom for $6 billion in Stockholm arbitration (Gazprom’s report)

• Russia to lift discount for shipments of natural gas to Ukraine

• No Reason to Revise Gas Deal With Ukraine in April (Alexander Novak, Russian EM)

Ukraine’s Naftogaz transfers $1.65 bln to Russia’s Gazprom under Brussels agreements

Ukraine’s Naftogaz has transferred 1.65 billion U.S. dollars to Russia’s Gazprom as repayment its gas debts, Naftogaz said on Wednesday.

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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Related:

• Russia to Halt Gas Sales to Ukraine if Kiev Fails to Repay $1.65Bln

• Question of gas supplies from Russia to be settled soon (Ukrainian energy minister)

• EU to Continue Financial Aid Provision for Ukraine's Gas Debt Repayment (Official)

• Kiev Agrees With IMF to Pay for Russian Gas During Winter Period From Own Exchange Reserve

Russia to Halt Gas Sales to Ukraine if Kiev Fails to Repay $1.65Bln

Russia will stop gas sales to Ukraine if Kiev fails to repay $1.65 billion of its gas debt to Russia, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday.

"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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•  Gashandel: Kiew zögert mit Schuldentilgung – Moskau droht Lieferstopp an ...

• Si Ucrania no paga la deuda de gas de diciembre, Rusia cesará los suministros ... 

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• Question of gas supplies from Russia to be settled soon (Ukrainian energy minister)

• EU to Continue Financial Aid Provision for Ukraine's Gas Debt Repayment (Official)

• Kiev Agrees With IMF to Pay for Russian Gas During Winter Period From Own Exchange Reserve

EU to Continue Financial Aid Provision for Ukraine's Gas Debt Repayment (Official)

The European Union intends to continue the provision of financial assistance to Ukraine to help the country repay its debt for Russian gas, EU Ambassador to Russia Vigaudas Ushatskas stated Wednesday.

"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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Related:

• Gazprom confirms Ukraine’s first $1.45bn gas tranche received...

• Gaz: Kiev a payé au russe Gazprom 1,45 milliard de dollars de sa dette ...

• Kiev Agrees With IMF to Pay for Russian Gas During Winter Period From Own Exchange Reserve

Kiev Agrees With IMF to Pay for Russian Gas During Winter Period From Own Exchange Reserve

Kiev has agreed with International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will pay for Russian gas during the winter period from Ukraine's exchange reserves, the country's national bank said.

"We managed to agree with IMF that the payments for the gas can be made from our own exchange reserves and IMF will support us. That is why we are confident we can support all the payments to Gazprom on the recent gas agreement," the Head of Ukraine's National Bank Valeriia Gontareva said at the press briefing.
Earlier on Monday, Ukraine's Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan told RIA Novosti that Kiev has not yet paid for Russian gas, but aims to do so in the near future...................http://en.ria.ru/business/20141103/195047378/Kiev-Agrees-With-IMF-to-Pay-for-Russian-Gas-During-Winter-Period.html3/11/14
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Related:

• Russia Ukraine and EU agree gas supply deal (Günther H. Oettinger /EC)

• Settlement of remaining Ukraine debt to be discussed after Stockholm arbitration decision ...

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: 

1. A binding protocol, signed by the European Commission (Vice-President Oettinger), the Russian Federation (Energy Minister Alexander Novak) and Ukraine (Energy Minister Yuri Prodan);
2. 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:

1.  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.
2. 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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Related:

• Russia and Ukraine agree gas supply deal ...

• Gazprom CEO: No gas agreement to be signed until Ukraine, EU agree on financial guarantees

• Ukraine, US Discuss Liquefied Gas Deliveries: Kiev

Gazprom CEO: No gas agreement to be signed until Ukraine, EU agree on financial guarantees

No gas agreements will be signed until “Ukraine and the European Union reach an agreement on financial guarantees,” Alexei Miller, the CEO of Russia’s gas giant Gazprom, said after the first round of tripartite gas talks.
 
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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Related:

• Ukraine, Russia tackle gas crisis as tensions spike 

• Ukraine, US Discuss Liquefied Gas Deliveries: Kiev

• EU energy commissioner, Ukraine energy minister discuss forthcoming tripartite gas talks

• Russia submits draft gas agreement to EU, Ukraine

Ukraine, Russia tackle gas crisis as tensions spike

Ukraine and Russia were set Wednesday to resume crunch EU-mediated gas talks aimed at ending a months-long supply cut that threatens to hit swathes of Europe this winter.

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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Related:

• Ukraine, US Discuss Liquefied Gas Deliveries: Kiev

• EU energy commissioner, Ukraine energy minister discuss forthcoming tripartite gas talks

• Russia submits draft gas agreement to EU, Ukraine

• Gas talks: Negotiations to be continued next week

Ukraine, US Discuss Liquefied Gas Deliveries: Kiev

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin and US Senator for Oklahoma Jim Inhofe met for talks in Kiev and discussed deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the United States to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

“Special attention during the talks was paid to the strengthening of energy security in Ukraine, particularly through the supply of liquefied natural gas from the United States,” a statement published on the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s official website said.

Ukraine currently receives gas only through reverse flows from Europe. In June, Russian energy giant Gazprom switched Ukraine to a prepayment system due to its gas debt of over $5 billion. Russia and Ukraine are expected to sign a temporary gas delivery agreement for the winter period during trilateral Russia-Ukraine-EU talks in Brussels on October 29.
 (RIA Novosti)
28/10/14
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Related:

• EU energy commissioner, Ukraine energy minister discuss forthcoming tripartite gas talks

• Russia submits draft gas agreement to EU, Ukraine

• Gas talks: Negotiations to be continued next week

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• Πρόταση Μέρκελ για ευρω-δάνειο στο Κίεβο, προκειμένου να καλυφθεί το χρέος για το ρωσικό φυσικό αέριο

EU energy commissioner, Ukraine energy minister discuss forthcoming tripartite gas talks

European energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger and Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuri Prodan had a telephone conversation on Monday to discuss aspects of the forthcoming tripartite gas talks due in Brussels on October 29, a spokesman for the European Commission told TASS.

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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Related:

• Russia submits draft gas agreement to EU, Ukraine

• Gas talks: Negotiations to be continued next week

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• Πρόταση Μέρκελ για ευρω-δάνειο στο Κίεβο, προκειμένου να καλυφθεί το χρέος για το ρωσικό φυσικό αέριο

Russia submits draft gas agreement to EU, Ukraine

Russia has submitted a draft trilateral protocol agreement to solve gas dispute to the EU and Ukraine, Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters Friday.

“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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• Gas talks: Negotiations to be continued next week

• 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....

Gas talks: Negotiations to be continued next week

From the Official Website of the European Commission, Statement, Brussels, 21 October 2014:

"At today's gas talks in Brussels, Vice-President Günther H. Oettinger, built on his Berlin proposals and presented ways to secure gas supplies to Europe and the Ukraine during the winter season.

Vice-President Günther H. Oettinger said: "We made another step towards a possible solution and are close to an agreement on important elements. Others still need to be addressed, such as the financial gap."

The following cornerstones are undisputed:

1. Debts: Ukraine would settle its debts based on a preliminary price of $268,5/ 1000m3 by making payments in two tranches: 1,45 billion $ by the end of October and 1,65 billion $ by the end of the year.

2. New gas: Ukraine will pay $385/ 1000m3 for gas to be delivered this winter without being subject to take-or-pay obligations. The exact volume has not been agreed yet. Russia will deliver the gas following advanced, monthly payments by Ukraine.

3. Transit fees: Russia guarantees the payment of the transit fees.

A new round of talks is envisaged for next week, 29 October 2014 in Brussels. Until then, the EU and Ukraine will explore ways how to close the financial gap.

A winter package is necessary as both Ukraine and Russia have referred the dispute to the international arbitration court in Stockholm and a final decision on the price and the debt is only expected next year."

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-331_en.htm?locale=en

21/10/14

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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....

Russia offers Ukraine more flexible schedule to pay gas debt

Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia offered Ukraine a more flexible schedule to clear the debt for gas, RIA Novosti reports.

Under the new proposal, $1.451 billion is to be paid before the start of gas supplies. The rest of the amount - before the end of the year. The total debt is evaluated at $3.1 billion.

Novak added that Ukraine stood ready to pay in advance for only 4 billion cubic meters of gas instead of the offered 5 billion, which did not correspond to Russian interests.

Ukraine's debt for the Rusisan gas has not diminished. Ukraine's Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that the payment was made in the amount of 1.67 billion dollars. However, an official spokesman for Gazprom said that the payment had not arrived.
Source: Pravda.Ru
13/10/14
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Related:

• Russian PM Medvedev Urges Compromise on Gas Dispute With Ukraine. "The debts must be paid off..."

• Ukraine disagrees to pay part of gas debt before supplies begin - Novak...

• Ukraine-Russia-EU gas talks postponed till next week. --Ukraine’s debt for gas exceeds $5 billion

• Ukrainian Energy Ministry Not Satisfied With Berlin ‘Winter Plan’ on Gas

Next Trilateral Talks Over Gas to Take Place Between Russia, Ukraine, EC in October. ("Sometimes it happens that what is understood orally is interpreted in writing somewhat differently...")

The next trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission over the standing issues surrounding gas will take place on October 2 or 3, Aleksander Novak, Russia's Minister of Energy, stated.

"First, we are currently drawing up the proposals that were presented to all the parties for uniform understanding. Sometimes it happens that what is understood orally is interpreted in writing somewhat differently. This will be done in the next few days. The Ukrainian side, the Russian side and the European Commission will each receive it [the written agreement]. We have agreed that we will meet to discuss the final package either Thursday or Friday next week,"- Novak said in an interview with the TV channel Russia-24.

What is to be decided upon is the supply of five billion cubic meters of gas within half a year and with a possible increase in volume. 

• The temporary price for 1,000 cubic meters of gas will be $385 for this period.

In an interview with Russia-24, Aleksei Miller, Head of Russia's Gazprom, stated that upon the close of the trilateral talks in Berlin it became evident that the positions of the sides diverted when it came to Ukraine paying off the gas debt, currently standing at $5.3 billion.

• According to Miller, Russia continues to insist that Ukraine first pay off $2 billion from the total debt in October. Only then will Gazprom be able to immediately commence gas supplies to Ukraine. He also added that another $1.1 billion Ukraine has to clear by the end of the year and that the sum of the $3.1 billion was presented to Ukraine by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In the meantime, Ukraine's Minister of Energy Yuri Prodan said that Ukraine would first make an advance payment for the future five billion cubic meters of gas constituting $1.9 billion. Another $1.5 billion, as part of the debt, Ukraine will pay off at the end of October, followed by $800 million in November and December each for the unsettled debt.

On September 26, the sides met in Berlin to discuss the existing issues relating to gas. According to preliminary arrangements, Russia and Ukraine will have to sign the so-called winter package of documents on Russian gas supplies to Ukraine that were cut off in mid-June.
(RIA Novosti)
27/9/14
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Related:

• Gas talks: Oettinger proposed supply agreement for coming winter

• La prochaine réunion trilatérale sur les questions de gaz Russie - Ukraine - CE se tiendra le 2 ou le 3 octobre, a annoncé le ministre russe de l'Energie, Alexandre Novak....

• Russia, Ukraine reach interim deal on gas dispute 

• Gas contracts with EU provide for no gas re-export options (Alexander Novak, Russian EM)

• Oettinger on energy security: “Gas can be used as a weapon and no longer be delivered" (EP -25.09.14)

Gas talks: Oettinger proposed supply agreement for coming winter

European Commission, Statement, Berlin, 26 September 2014:

At today's gas talks in Berlin, Vice-President Guenther Oettinger proposed a new compromise to secure gas supplies to Europe and the Ukraine during the winter season.

Vice-President Guenther Oettinger said:

"This could be a fair deal for both sides to break the deadlock and ensure that gas supply to Ukraine and EU is assured for the coming winter."

The proposal envisages the following comittments:

• - Ukraine would settle its debts based on a preliminary price of $268,5$/1000m3 by making payments in two tranches: 2 Billion $ by the end of October and 1,1 Billion $ by the end of the year.

• - Gazprom and Naftogaz agree that at least 5 bcm based on a price of 385$/1000m3 will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming winter with the possibility for Naftogaz to order more gas if needed. 5 bcm is the minimum volume Ukraine considers it would need in the coming winter.

The details of the proposal will be discussed by both governments and may be subject to another round of trilateral talks next week.

If agreed, the proposal should be binding on both parties and complement the existing gas supply contract.

Such an interim agreement is necessary as both Ukraine and Russia have referred the dispute to the international arbitration court in Stockholm and a final decision on the price and the debt is only expected next year.

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-287_en.htm?locale=en

26/9/14

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Related:

• Russia, Ukraine reach interim deal on gas dispute 

• Gas contracts with EU provide for no gas re-export options (Alexander Novak, Russian EM)

• Oettinger on energy security: “Gas can be used as a weapon and no longer be delivered" (EP -25.09.14)

Russia, Ukraine reach interim deal on gas dispute

European Union (EU) Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed in principle on an interim deal over gas supplies and would meet next week to decide on final details.

The EU, Ukraine and Russia held a trilateral mainisterial meeting on energy security in Berlin on Friday.

The three sides were represented by Oettinger, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan respectively. Representatives of Russian and Ukrainian gas companies also attended the meeting.

Speaking at a press conference after the talks, Oettinger said the three sides had hold intensive talks Friday and negotiated a plan to secure gas supplies in Europe for the coming winter.

• According to the "winter package" mediated by the EU, Kiev would pay 2 billion U.S. dollars to Russia by the end of October and a further 1.1 billion dollars by the end of this year to pay off gas debts.

• In return, Russia would deliver at least 5 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine after it has received the first 2 billion dollars. The price discussed for the gas deliveries was 385 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.

Novak told the press conference that the three sides had made a plan as a basis to solve the gas dispute and to secure gas supplies to Ukraine and EU member states for the next six months.

Prodan said he believed Ukraine and Russia could settle questions and differences remained on issues concerning gas price and payment of the old debts.

The interim agreement has to be approved by the governments in Moscow and Kiev, and further trilateral talks were planned next week to decide on final details of the deal, said Oettinger, adding that the chances were high that all parties will endorse the agreement.

Ukraine and Russia have been embroiled in a standoff on gas pricing for a few months. In June, Russia cut all gas supplies to Ukraine as the two sides failed to reach an agreement on payments.

The EU is heavily dependent on Russia, from whom it imports a third of its oil needs, 39 percent of gas and 26 percent of solid fuels, according to official EU statistics.
Xinhua - china.org.cn
27/9/14
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Related:

• Hungary halts gas sale to Ukraine on Russia fears

• Gas contracts with EU provide for no gas re-export options (Alexander Novak, Russian EM)

• The European Union has proposed that Ukraine pay Russia $3.1 billion to cover its debt to Russia's gas giant Gazprom, European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said Friday....

• EU hopeful of gas deal between Ukraine and Russia...

Gazprom delays prepayment gas supply regime for Ukraine until June 16

This said Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller following his talks with European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger...

Russian energy giant Gazprom decided to postpone until June 16 an introduction of the prepayment regime for the natural gas supplies to Ukraine, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Wednesday.

“Bilateral consultations between the European Commission and the Russian delegation were held today in Brussels,” Miller said following his talks with European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger.

“The Russian side made an advance to maintain constructive negotiations,” he said. “The prepayment regime will not be activated at 10:00 a.m. Moscow time on Wednesday and its introduction has been moved for the next Monday at 10:00 a.m.”

Besides Miller, the bilateral consultations with Oettinger in Brussles also involved Russian Eenergy Minister Alexander Novak. The talks lasted for nearly two and a half hours.

The issue of Ukraine’s natural gas debt to Russia was also in the focus of President Vladimir Putin’s telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel late on Tuesday night.
“Putin stressed that despite the emerged difficulties the Russian delegation obliges to continue the talks basing on the constructive stance and with the aim of achieving a mutually beneficial agreement,” the Kremlin said commenting on the results of the telephone conversation.

Russia, Ukraine and the European Union met on late Monday in Brussels for the fifth round of the three-party gas talks, which lasted for almost eight hours and ended on early Tuesday with the participating sides failing to reach a final agreement. The participants decided to continue the negotiations on late Tuesday.
However, Oettinger’s spokeswoman Sabine Berger later said that the talks were rescheduled for Wednesday morning at 9:30 local time (7:30 GMT) as the Russian delegates had to fly to Moscow to coordinate their positions with President Putin and returned to Brussels late on Tuesday night.
Following the trilateral talks on Tuesday, Novak said that the Russian gas price for Ukraine for June, July and August was for the first time discussed at the negotiations.

Kiev has already repaid part of its gas debt to Moscow following previous rounds of gas talks. Novak confirmed Moscow’s position that Ukraine should repay the gas debt for November-December 2013 to the tune of $1.451 billion (as of June 2) and $500 million for April-May 2014 by June 10............http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/735690
11/6/14
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Related:

• Russia, Ukraine, EU gas talks fail to reach deal

• Russia’s Gazprom delays introduction of advance payment for gas to Ukraine to June 9

Russia, Ukraine, EU gas talks fail to reach deal

Russia, Ukraine and the EU have failed to reach an agreement during gas talks in Brussels. Negotiations will continue on Tuesday or Wednesday, EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said after the fifth round of the three-party talks.
Oettinger specified that there are some remaining open issues and different positions between the parties.
He indicated that talks will continue tomorrow as Ukrainian and Russian delegates talk with their governments and decide if they want to continue the negotiations.
"The talks will continue either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning," Commission spokeswoman Sabine Berger told Reuters.

Russia, Ukraine and the EU for the first time discussed the price for the supplied Russian gas to Ukraine, including payments for June-August, Russia's Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said after the three-party gas talks ended. 

Russia has proposed "a very constructive plan, which we believe all stakeholders could and should accept,” Novak said, including the repayment schedules for the remaining debt Ukraine owes Gazprom.
 
$1.454 billion of Ukraine’s undisputed debt to Gazprom remains unpaid. This is the debt for Russian gas delivered to Ukraine in November and December of 2013.
The parties discussed repayments for the past November-December supplies, Novak said, adding that the need to pay back $1.451 billion by June 10 remains unchanged, as well as the partial repayment of $500 million debt accumulated for April and May.
Earlier on Monday, Ukraine’s energy and coal industry minister Yury Prodan said Kiev will pay the debt for Russian gas after the new gas price is confirmed.
Gazprom says Ukraine owes it $4.46 billion in unpaid bills and is running up more debt at a rate of more than $1 billion per month. Meanwhile, Kiev says its debt for 2013 and 2014 as of April 1 stood at $2.2 billion. It paid $786 million last week which covered the gas supplied in the first quarter of this year.

Ukraine receives about half of its natural gas from the Russian energy giant, and about 16 percent of Europe’s annual demand passes through Ukrainian pipelines.

A compromise agreement reached in May was broken by Kiev after it failed to repay $2 billion to Gazprom. The second part of that deal included another $500 million to be paid no later than June 7.

On Monday, Aleksey Miller said that Gazprom will wait another seven days for the debt to be paid in full before it switches Kiev to a prepayment system for natural gas. 
[rt.com]
10/6/14
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