In response to the letter from the Russian gas company Gazprom (see EUROPE 12371/4), the Ukrainian gas transmission company Naftogaz undertook, on Monday 25 November, to continue negotiations on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine.
"We currently see no legitimate reason not to conclude a new contract for the transit of gas through Ukraine in accordance with European regulations, and we declare ourselves ready to work diligently on this", Yuriy Vitrenko, Naftogaz's executive director, said on Facebook.
Nevertheless, Mr Vitrenko has also repeatedly stressed the need for any agreement, including a possible one-year contract, as suggested by Gazprom, to comply with Ukrainian and European laws.
According to him, "Even if Gazprom regards its offer as a contingency plan in case of a failure to conclude a long-term transit contract in time, this option must nevertheless comply with Ukrainian legislation and European rules".
Regarding Gazprom's proposal to waive any reciprocal claims in international arbitration, as well as to waive the legal proceedings between the two companies, Naftogaz is prepared to negotiate an amicable agreement with Gazprom.
The company is thus ready to consider that the three billion dollars owed by Gazprom will be reimbursed in the form of gas supplies.
In addition, Natfogaz considers that the withdrawal of its complaint against Gazprom before the European Union's antitrust body for violation of EU competition law, as well as the cancellation of the fine imposed on the Russian company by the Ukrainian Anti-Monopoly Committee (two requests made by Gazprom), should not be prerequisites for the conclusion of an agreement. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)