Russia Must Provide Gas Transits to Europe via Ukraine - Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with Russian Security Council members that Russia needs to provide gas transits to Europe through Ukraine unconditionally, according to Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia needs to provide gas transits to Europe through Ukraine unconditionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with Russian Security Council members Friday.

“The necessity of the unconditional provision of transit gas in full volume through the territory of [Ukraine] to consumers in eastern and western Europe was noted,” Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said.

On Monday, Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission held talks in Brussels regarding the matter of gas deliveries.

The subject of Russian gas transit through Ukraine to the European Union has been a matter of concern for the bloc in light of the strained relations between Moscow and Kiev and Ukraine's gas debt to Russia.

Gazprom cut gas deliveries to Ukraine last summer, citing Kiev's immense debt of over $5 billion. After an almost six-month halt, gas deliveries were renewed in December 2014, under a so-called winter package. The deal, that expires in April, requires advance payment from Kiev for the discounted price of $100 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas.

On February 25 Putin stressed Moscow would again suspend gas supplies to Ukraine unless Kiev made further prepayment.

On Thursday Gazprom’s spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said that Ukraine's Naftogaz had transferred $15 million to Russia's gas giant for the delivery of 45.6 million cubic meters of gas, or enough to last five days until March 6.