PM: Russia strives to actually cut off all energy resources for Ukraine

In the course of tripartite consultations Ukraine and the EU developed a common position, which is Russia's actions threaten both military and global energy security. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk said at a Government meeting on Wednesday, August 27.

The Head of Government stressed that the situation in energy complex is difficult: "We know about the plans of Russia in winter to halt transit of gas, even to the European Union member states. And that's why their [Russian - ed.] companies were instructed to maximally pump up gas into storages on the territory of Europe".

Arseniy Yatsenyuk informed that the Government had accumulated in the storages 15 billion cubic meters of gas. In contrast to 5 billion cubic meters, which were in the gas storages six months ago: "We are well aware about the plans of Russia, whose goal is to actually disconnect Ukraine from all energy resources”.

Moreover, the Government is also engaged in the diversification of coal supplies, "as the Russian Federation and their mercenaries are bombing and destroying mines, we extracted steam coal from."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that Ukrainian party had filed a claim against Russian Gazprom to Stockholm Court with a demand to refund USD 6 billion.

The PM stressed the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had adopted the Law “On reforming of the gas transportation system of Ukraine" and informed he had appealed to the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and western partners to hold a public tender to attract foreign investors to the management of the Ukrainian gas transportation system. 

Also, according to him, "Naftogaz of Ukraine" has notified Russian "Gazprom" on the need to revise the rates for the transit of Russian natural gas via the territory of Ukraine.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded about the ongoing tripartite consultations of the European Union, Ukraine and Russia: "The European Union and Ukraine have a common position - Russia's actions threaten both global military security and global energy security".

“We have offered a clear market approach. And there are two options. The first is to adopt a joint approach of the EU and Ukraine. The second - it will be resolved exclusively by the Stockholm Arbitration Court,” the Head of Government emphasized.

“Our position is clear and invariable. Approaches to energy security are contained in the joint vision between Ukraine and the European Union for the Russian Federation,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk highlighted and added the following round of consultations between Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Yurii Prodan, EU Commissioner for Energy Gunter Oettinger and Russian top officials is due.