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Gazprom offers to settle $2.6 billion dispute with Naftogaz of Ukraine
The Russian state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom has offered to sign a settlement agreement with the Ukrainian oil and gas company Naftogaz in order to resolve a long-standing dispute, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the press.
In February 2018, the Stockholm Arbitration Institute ordered Gazprom to pay Naftogaz $4.63 billion for failing to supply the volumes of gas stipulated in their transit agreement. Since previously the arbitrators had ordered Kyiv to pay Gazprom $2 billion …
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US promises to help Ukraine prepare for possible gas transit shutdown in 2020
In an interview with an Interfax-Ukraine News Agency, the Counselor for Economic Affairs in US Embassy in Kyiv John Paul Schutte said that the US is ready to help Ukraine prepare for a possible gas transit shutdown in 2020 by the Russian Federation.
"Ukraine should be prepared in case Russia shuts down gas transit through Ukraine in 2020, as it threatens to do. The United States is ready to help Ukraine prepare for this. Ukrainian companies should take measures to purchase and store gas for …
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Two thirds of aircraft in Russia may be banned from flying
Two thirds of the foreign aircraft belonging to Russian aviation companies have been placed in the “risk group”, Vedomosti reports. Nearly 400 airliners do not comply with the new demands of the Federal Air Transport Agency (RosAviation) and the Prosecutor General’s Office, and 10 aircraft belonging to Nordwind and Azur Air have already stopped flying.
Three Boeing 777s belonging to Royal Flight are also at risk. Aviation companies in Russia have a total of more than 600 medium and long-range …
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Belarusian government faces problems with $600 million loan from Russia
Belarus has had problems arranging a $600 million government loan from Russia, said Belarusian Finance Minister Maxim Yermolovich, as cited by BelTA.
The finance minister explained that Minsk had planned to repay its foreign debts this year using a $600 million loan from the Russian government, a $200 million tranche from the Eurasian Stabilization and Development Fund, a $700 million budget surplus, and funds borrowed on the internal market.
“In principle, it was enough to completely close …
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Netanyahu confirms that it was Israel that struck Syria this week
Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that it was the Israeli Air Force that bombed military facilities in Syria tonight.
“The challenges we face are endless. Not only are we decisively countering any attacks by the enemy, we also anticipate the strikes. Acting firmly and relentlessly, we will not allow the enemy to create bridgeheads to carry out attacks near our borders,” said Netanyahu, speaking at a ceremony honoring the memory of the fourth President of …