Putin expects more active EU role in solving Ukraine gas debt problem

Russia is disappointed by the absence of EU specific proposals on solving the Ukraine gas debt problem and expects European countries to play a more active role in this process, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

In a special address to European leaders, Putin said that Russia’s decision to demand advance payments for natural gas deliveries to Ukraine was a forced measure.

“In early April, we came up with a proposal to hold immediate consultations with the aim of elaborating coordinated actions to stabilize the Ukrainian economy and ensure stable Russian gas deliveries and transit in compliance with contract terms,” Putin said in his letter.

Since then, Russia has held consultations with some non-EU countries in Moscow, at which “our partners fully shared our concerns over Ukraine’s payments for gas delivered by Russia and the risks of insufficient amounts of gas pumped into Ukraine’s underground storage facilities (to ensure uninterrupted gas transit to Europe),” Putin said.

“As for EU member countries, only one meeting was held In Warsaw during this period with a delegation led by EU Energy Commissioner (Gunther) Oettinger with the participation of Ukrainian representative (Energy Minister Yuriy) Prodan,” Putin said.

“Unfortunately, we have to state that we have not received any specific proposals from our partners on stabilizing the situation with the fulfillment of contractual obligations by the Ukrainian buyer and ensuring reliable gas transit,” Putin said.

The Russian president said that “over this time the situation with the payment for Russian gas had only deteriorated” as Gazprom had not received any payment for gas delivered to Ukraine.

“Ukraine’s overall debt has grown from $2.237 billion to $3.508 billion,” Putin said. “The debt grew despite the fact that the Ukrainian side had received the first $3.2 billion loan tranche from the IMF,” Putin said.

“In this situation, the Russian side issued a bill for gas prepayment from June 1 in strict compliance with the contract and will make gas deliveries in amounts prepaid by the Ukrainian side,” Putin said.

“I would like to emphasize once again that this is a forced decision. The Russian Federation remains open for the continuation of consultations and for joint actions with European countries for normalizing the situation,” Putin wrote in his letter.[itar-tass.com]
15/5/14
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• Ukraine Ready to Pay Russia $4 bln by End of May for Gas 

• EU replies to Putin's letter on natural gas

• Putin Says Further Violations by Ukraine Will Compel Russia to Cut Off Gas. -Russia cannot and should not unilaterally bear the burden of supporting Ukraine’s economy

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• Putin will Gaslieferungen an Ukraine drosseln....

Der Streit um russische Gaslieferungen an die Ukraine und die Europäische Union hat sich am Donnerstag wieder verschärft. In einem zweiten Schreiben an 19 europäische Staaten, unter ihnen Österreich, hat der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin gedroht, bereits ab 1. Juni die Gaslieferungen an die Ukraine zu reduzieren. Es werde nur mehr so viel geliefert, wie Kiew im Voraus an Gazprom bezahle.

n dem am Donnerstag veröffentlichten Schreiben an Österreich, Bosnien-Herzegowina, Bulgarien, Tschechien, Kroatien, Frankreich, Deutschland, Griechenland, Ungarn, Frankreich, Italien, EJRM***, Moldau, Polen, Rumänien, Serbien, Slowakei, Slowenien und die Türke verweist Putin darauf, dass sich trotz Bemühungen der EU im Gasstreit mit der Ukraine die Lage im vergangenen Montag nicht gebessert habe. "Im Gegenteil hat sich die Situation mit den Zahlungen für russisches Gas verschlechtert."

"Keine einzige Zahlung an Gazprom"

Gazprom habe keine einzige Zahlung für Gaslieferungen an die Ukraine erhalten, und insgesamt habe sich die Schuld Kiews von 2,237 Milliarden auf 3,508 Milliarden Dollar erhöht. "Und das trotz der Tatsache, dass die Ukraine die erste Tranche des IWF-Kredits von 3,2 Milliarden Dollar erhalten hat", heißt es in dem Brief.
Eine Vorauszahlung für Gaslieferungen an die Ukraine stehe "völlig in Übereinstimmung mit dem Vertrag" und "nach dem 1. Juni werden die Gaslieferungen limitiert, entsprechend dem von der ukrainischen Gasgesellschaft im Voraus bezahlten Rechnung". Putin betonte, dass Russland weiterhin bereit sei, die Verhandlungen fortzusetzen und gemeinsam mit den EU-Ländern zu arbeiten, um die Lage zu normalisieren. "Wir hoffen auch, dass die EU-Kommission sich stärker im Dialog aktiv engagiert, um eine faire Lösung zu finden, die auch hilft, die ukrainische Wirtschaft zu stabilisieren."
[diepresse.com]
15/5/14
***GREECE recognized this country with the name "FYROM" (EJRM)]
***[UN  resolution A/RES/47/225 of 8 April 1993]