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Russia to overfulfill contractual obligations for gas transit through Ukraine in 2021

The contract includes the transit of 65 bln cubic meters of gas in 2020 and 40 bln cubic meters annually from 2021 to 2024

MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. Russia plans to overfulfill its contractual obligations for gas transit through Ukraine in 2021, Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov told reporters on Thursday.

"I believe we will. It is difficult for me to say the percentage, but we will," he said.

The agreement between Russia and Ukraine on the supply and transit of gas signed in 2019 expires in 2024. The contract includes the transit of 65 bln cubic meters of gas in 2020 and 40 bln cubic meters (around 109.5 mln cubic meters per day) annually from 2021 to 2024. Meanwhile, Kiev announced they would like to conclude a contract for the transit of gas through Ukraine immediately, without waiting for 2024, when the current contract with Gazprom expires. Ukraine believes it will guarantee the preservation of transit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier he believes that Gazprom must continue to fulfill its contractual obligations to supply gas through Ukraine to the EU. "It is necessary to fully comply with the contractual obligations for the transit, delivering our gas through the territory of Ukraine, through the gas transportation system of Ukraine," he said.

"First, we should not put anyone in a difficult position, including Ukraine, despite all the aspects related to the Russian-Ukrainian relations today, and secondly, we should not undermine the credibility of Gazprom as a reliable, absolutely reliable partner in every way," Putin explained.