KIEV, December 16. /TASS/. Ukraine’s national gas company Naftogaz has accused Russia’s gas giant Gazprom of seeking to provoke another gas crisis after the latter said it could limit gas supplies in case Ukraine steals transit gas.
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Naftogaz said on Friday it considers Gazprom’s warning of possible stopping gas supplies to European consumers as Russia’s seeking to provoke another gas crisis in January-February 2017 to promote its own interests in relations with the European Union.
Nevertheless, according to Naftogaz, Ukraine has enough gas to live through the heating season.
"The Ukrainian side is fully aware of the critical importance of gas supplies from the European Union countries for its energy security and the importance of keeping Western partners’ support to Ukraine. I stress that Naftogaz has never breached its transit liabilities. As is known, Gazprom has provided no proof to our violations of the contract in 2006 and 2009 but instead used the artificially created crisis situations to promote its own interests. We once again reiterate our readiness to fulfil our transit liabilities in compliance with the contract," Naftogaz CEO Andrei Kobolev said.
Earlier, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said his company has the right to limit gas supplies if Ukraine illegally takes part of transit gas.
"The 2009 contract very clearly states that if Ukraine starts taking gas without permission, Gazprom has the right to limit supplies in the amount taken. Gazprom may start limiting supplies unproportionately. A possibility is also envisaged in case of single unsanctioned taking for Gazprom to cease supplies altogether," he noted.