Ukraine is determined to contest the debts claimed by Gazprom through arbitration proceedings, and Russia plans to sue national energy company Naftogaz Ukrainy for arranging reverse gas supplies from Europe.
“We have obtained analysis from lawyers that the sum needs to be reconsidered, and it is probable that there might be no debt at all,” Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan told journalists in Warsaw on Friday, May 2.
It was reported earlier that Ukraine’s current overdue debt for gas supplies from Russia reached $2.2 billion and may grow to $3.5 billion on May 7. Gazprom also claims another $18 billion from Ukraine for taking less gas than it contracted in 2012 and 2013.
Kyiv is looking to appeal Russia’s decision to raise the price for its gas to $468.5 from $268.5 per 1,000 cubic meters starting from April, Prodan said. “Yes, we hope we will also consider the unsubstantiated prices of 2014,” he said.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Russia would seek to put an end to reverse gas supplies from Europe arranged by Ukraine. “We reserve the right to discuss this issue and appeal to various arbitration bodies,” Novak said.
Reverse gas supplies were not discussed at the Russian-Ukrainian-EU negotiations in Warsaw on Friday, he said.
