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US, EU hail Ukraine’s drive to diversify natural gas supplies

Energy Council statement says that the EU and the US praise “the determination of the Ukrainian government to pursue energy efficiency, market transparency, and the long overdue restructuring and reform of Naftogaz”

© EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

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BRUSSELS, April 02. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union and the United States hail Ukraine’s plans to diversify sources and routes for natural gas imports, according to a statement issued after the EU-US Energy Council session in Brussels on Wednesday.

“The Council affirmed its strong support for Ukraine’s efforts to diversify its supplies of natural gas, including through the rapid enhancement of reverse flow capacities, increased gas storage capacity, and decisive measures recently announced with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) to build a competitive energy economy,” the statement said.

The session in Brussels was attended by EU High Representative/Vice President Catherine Ashton, EU Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger, US Secretary of State John Kerry, US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and some other US and European officials.

“The EU and the United States will work with Ukraine and international partners to extend best international practice as Ukraine takes these steps,” it said.

The statement also said that the EU and the United States praised “the determination of the Ukrainian government to pursue energy efficiency, market transparency, and the long overdue restructuring and reform of Naftogaz.”

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Ukraine looks forward to reverse gas flow from Slovakia – Yatsenyuk

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, Andriy Kobolev, the board chairman of the Ukrainian national joint stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy, said the company was looking forward to buying natural gas from European suppliers.

“We are prepared to buy gas from any company that will offer the lowest price,” Kobolev said, adding that Kiev was in active talks with Bratislava negotiating a deal for Slovakia to become a transit country for EU supplies of natural gas to Ukraine.

Ukraine's reliance on Russian gas

Ukraine until recently heavily relied on natural gas supplies from Russia and also keeps serving as a transit country for Russia’s gas to a number of European countries.

However, Alexei Miller, the CEO of Russian energy giant Gazprom, announced on Tuesday that the price of Russian natural gas for Ukraine was upped to $385.5 per 1,000 cubic meters starting April 1.

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According to Miller, Ukraine failed to meet its commitments and pay out 2013 gas debt, which already hit the mark of $1.711 billion.

In late 2013, Gazprom reduced gas price for Naftogaz Ukrainy by 33% to $268.5 per 1,000 cubic meters. Previously, Ukraine had bought Russian gas at $400. The discount for Ukraine was only effective in the first quarter of 2013.

Ukraine’s parliament-appointed Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Prodan earlier warned the European Commission that if the European Union countries failed to arrange natural gas supplies to Ukraine, one could predict a complete halt of Russian natural gas supplies to the West via Ukraine.

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Ivan Zhelokhovtsev said that the agreements that were reached during the DPRK leader's visit to Russia represent "evidence of the mutual desire of the sides to consistently implement and expand the rich heritage" that was passed down from previous generations

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The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability

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The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

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Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said the brigades had completely or partially destroyed 135 units of Israeli military equipment over the past three days

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According to the diplomat, Russia is engaged in "fierce battles on this issue in different committees of the General Assembly"

TotalEnergies expects gas price hike if Russian LNG falls under sanctions

Patrick Pouyanne expressed confidence that the European leaders understood that security of gas supplies depended on LNG and would not like to see a price crisis in Europe again until 2027

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The Federal Statistics Service noted that mortality in the eight months of 2023 decreased by 9.8%, and the birth rate dropped by 2.5%

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Russian subsidiary of JP Morgan scaling up Russian assets

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Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

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Israel’s military upcoming operation in Rafah will also be on agenda, the New York Times reported

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China, US free to have their own friends, partners — President Xi

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Medvedev warns that Russia’s default may entail Europe’s default

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council added that the European Union’s financial system is not very stable and people are losing confidence

Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

The Russian leader pointed out that it is important to ensure stability and transparency in the Russian socio-political system

Scholz asks allies to find additional air defense capabilities for Ukraine

Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US

Space station’s orbit raised by 1 km — Roscosmos

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