PM: Unless Naftogaz and Gazprom sign an appropriate agreement by 29 May, we will be seeing in court

The period of pre-arbitration settlement of the dispute between Naftogaz Ukraine and Russian gas monopoly Gazprom expires on May 29. “Unless Naftogaz and Gazprom sign an appropriate agreement, which will meet the pre-arbitration claim sent by Ukraine almost a month ago by May 29, it means we will be seeing Russia's Gazprom in court”, Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatseniuk said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, May 27.

“Russia has not made a single step to settle this dispute yet, there's no time left”, he added.

“My position on this issue is unchanged: Ukraine is ready to pay for the gas purchased, saying that debts should be repaid. We just have to sign documents to pay our debts,” the PM emphasized.

The PM underlined that we want to hear from Russia as to the issue of returning to Ukraine the 2.2 billion cubic meters of gas “that Russia stole through Chornomornaftogaz in Crimea”. “It's $1 billion at Gazprom’s prices”. I’ m not talking about Ukraine's losses from the joining of Crimea to Russia that "are in the billions."

“If we are for justice, we will have a fair, honest and straight talk. So Russia has one-sided justice: everything they say is all right, all they do, attacking the country, undermining global security system, destroying borders - it turns out to comply with international law, and the fact that Ukraine together with the international community is demanding to return Crimea, to return the Ukrainian state property, to sign an agreement that would meet the basic market principles, as it is unprofitable for Russia, that is, from their point of view, wrong”, he stressed.

“As to the negotiations with the Russian Federation, the Government’s position on this issue is also unchanged. Bilateral negotiations are not possible in the current situation without the involvement of the U.S. and the EU.”

Arseniy Yatsenyuk expressed the hope that an appropriate agreement between Naftogaz and Gazprom will be signed.

At the same time, the PM stressed that we need to build a new energy market in Europe.

He reminded that Ukraine, unlike Russia, is a member of the Energy Charter, Ukraine takes the third energy package. “So, we have completely different legal framework”.

“So under this gas crisis we should build a new energy market in Europe. This means that Russian gas is not sold on the border between Ukraine and the European Union, but on the border between Ukraine and Russia", Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized.

Also, according to him, the Ukrainian gas transportation system should be operated and modernized in cooperation with European partners and partners from the United States: "Ukrainian underground storage facilities should be filled by Ukrainian, European, American companies”.

"If Russia wants to join, it is welcome. We will give access to all according to international law", said the Prime Minister.