Energy security is one of the key issues in bilateral relations between Ukraine and the U.S., Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly said in an interview with Ukrinform on June 23.
According to Chaly, one of Ukraine’s main goals is to diversify its energy supply and, specifically, to replace anthracite coal imports from Russia.
“As for me, America would be the best solution,” Chaly said.
He said that a delegation of Centrenergo, the Ukrainian state-owned electrical and thermal energy producer, is currently holding negotiations with several American companies regarding possible contracts.
This comes after both Ukraine and the U.S. expressed their opposition to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea. The new pipeline would bring Russian gas to Northern Europe and increase the one-third market share Russian state gas giant Gazprom already enjoys on the continent. Ukraine, which currently earns transit fees on Russian gas shipped through its territory, may be left out.
The U.S. considers an increase from its side of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to Europe a possible alternative to Russian gas.
“The process of diversifying gas supplies to Europe is also beneficial for Ukraine,” Chaly said.
Meanwhile, Washington and Kyiv have agreed to expand cooperation in nuclear energy, with involvement from U.S. firms Holtec International and Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
“We are talking about the construction of a repository for spent nuclear fuel and export of American nuclear reactors to Ukrainian nuclear power plants to replace old Soviet equipment,” Chaly said.
In March, Ukraine’s state nuclear power producer Energoatom signed an agreement with the Swedish division of Westinghouse Electric for the production and supply of nuclear fuel to six Ukrainian VVER-1000 reactors.
Chaly also noted that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defence James Mattis, and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry may visit Ukraine this year.
If the visits take place, they will likely see a continuation of discussions over energy and defence cooperation started during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s trip to Washington, D.C earlier this week.
Poroshenko’s visit lasted 36 hours and included a brief “drop-in” session with President Donald Trump, as well as meetings with U.S. State Secretaries, the IMF, the World Bank and the Heritage Foundation.
Chaly said that although the Poroshenko-Trump meeting was officially described as a “drop-in” it was in fact a full-pledged work visit.
“The meeting lasted 30 minutes,” Chaly said. “After that the White House made public statements with the results of negotiations and published the transcript of the meeting, which is only done during full negotiations.”
Poroshenko invited several American cabinet members to Ukraine. The official announcements will be made later, but “I can say that this year we are expecting the U.S. secretary of state, secretary of energy and secretary of defense.”
