Putin and Merkel discuss gas transit to Europe via Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a telephone conversation to discuss the continuation of Russian gas transit to the EU through Ukraine after 2019, reports the Kremlin’s press service.
According to the Kremlin’s press service, Putin and Merkel discussed the transit in connection with the beginning of the next stage of the trilateral gas consultation of Russia, the EU, and Ukraine in Brussels. The parties are working on a decision on gas transit after the expiration of the current contract at the end of 2019. The Kremlin’s press service did not provide any details of the conversation.
On October 22, Russia, the EU, and Ukraine held technical consultations in preparation for a new round of negotiations on gas transit after January 1, 2020. The parties discussed the implementation of EU legislation by the Ukrainian side, as well as the possibility of inviting an independent GTS (gas transportation system) operator. Also, they discussed the agreement on cooperation between the Russian and Ukrainian GTS operators.
The current gas transit contract between Russia and Ukraine expires on December 31. In early October, the head of the Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz Andriy Kobolyev said that the extension of the previous contract is meaningless. According to Kobolyev, a new contract should be developed and concluded under European law and with the participation of a new operator.