Moscow, Kiev, Brussels to Discuss Gas Transit via Ukraine on Friday - Sefcovic

The energy ministers of Russia and Ukraine, representatives of European Commission, Russian Gazprom and Ukrainian Naftogaz energy companies will discuss the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine on December 9, European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said Thursday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Sefcovic added that the sides would begin by discussing the potential problems, challenges and expectations.

"I am glad that I can confirm that tomorrow we well have a meeting with Russian minister [Alexander] Novak and Ukrainian minister [Igor] Nasalik, and also representatives of the two companies — Gazprom and Naftogaz, and the aim is to make sure that we would have secure and reliable transit of gas guaranteed also for this winter," Sefcovic told RIA Novosti.

Ukraine is a key country for transit of Russian gas to Europe. However, for years Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in gas disputes.

In June 2014, Gazprom switched Ukraine to a prepayment system for gas supplies citing its massive gas debt. Ukraine’s Naftogaz appealed to the Arbitration Court in Stockholm, seeking a retroactive revision of its 2009-2019 natural gas transit contract with Russia.

On December 5, Naftogaz head Andriy Kobolev said the company was ready to buy gas from Russian Gazprom if provided with a beneficial price and complementary agreement to the existing contract.