Ukraine, Russia, EC may discuss implementation of gas agreements in Brussels on February 26-27 – Naftogaz chief

Ukraine, Russia and the European Commission may discuss the implementation of the gas agreements in Brussels on February 26-27, Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Andriy Kobolev has said.

According to him, Naftogaz repeatedly sent written requests to Gazprom demanding explanation of the Russian company's non-compliance with the requests to supply the previously prepaid amounts of gas, but has received no reply.

"If there is still no response, then at the end of this week, this Thursday or Friday, we will have tripartite talks in Brussels, where I hope that in the presence of representatives of the European Commission, we will get the answer to this question," he said on Tuesday evening on Channel 5.

Kobolev added that the current procedure for rapid response to such situations envisages holding negotiations as soon as possible, where the conflicting parties will disclose their positions and try to reach a compromise.

"If a compromise is reached, that's good... I hope that a compromise will be reached, but if that does not happen, there will be legal consequences that will have financial implications for Gazprom," the Naftogaz head said.

Kobolev recalled that according to the contract, applications and routes of Russian gas shipments to Ukraine should come from Ukrtransgaz. Therefore, the possible receipt by Gazprom of a request from the management of Donbastransgaz trunk pipelines for gas supplies is not valid.