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Russia ready to continue transporting gas via Ukraine in case of competitive conditions

Energy Minister Alexander Novak added that Ukraine has not yet fulfilled obligations assumed for the European Commission on its gas transport system reform

© AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov

SOCHI, February 14. /TASS/. Russia is still ready to continue transporting gas through Ukraine after 2019 in case of competitive conditions, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on the sidelines of the Russian investment forum on Thursday.

He noted though that it is necessary for the sides to settle legal disputes. "In this respect the statements coming from our Ukrainian colleagues that they are ready to impose more and more fines offer little room for optimism," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Novak added that Ukraine has not yet fulfilled obligations assumed for the European Commission on its gas transport system reform. "Ukrainian partners have not yet fulfilled the obligations for the European Commission to reform its gas transport infrastructure," he said.

On January 21, a trilateral meeting on transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine with the participation of Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission was held in Brussels. It was fruitless as after receiving proposals for continuing gas transit from Russia after 2019 from both the Russian and European sides, representatives of the Ukrainian delegation said that Moscow’s proposal to simply extend the existing contract did not suit Ukraine, whereas the European Commission’s proposal would be examined.

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