Naftogaz Ukrainy expects three-party talks on gas with Russia and the European Commission (EC) to resume in July, the Ukrainian national oil and gas company's chief, Andriy Kobolev, told a press conference in Kyiv.
Kobolev said preliminary consultations were under way, and that the
European energy commissioner had suggested beginning the next round of
talks in July.
“We are planning to suggest a new round of talks in the near future.
They will be three-party talks with the participation of the European
Commission. We are now agreeing on a possible date. EU Commissioner
[Gunther] Oettinger suggested July, therefore I am not ruling out the
possibility that they may resume in July,” Kobolev said.
The Naftogaz head also said consensus with Gazprom might be reached
before Stockholm arbitrators deliver their final verdict on the mutual
claims by the companies.
“Practice demonstrates that during arbitration proceedings, as a
rule, the companies that are conducting such negotiations very often
come to an agreement without waiting for the decision of the
arbitrators. We hope that this will also be the case for us, but we
could have it both ways,” he said.
