Ukraine accused Gazprom of preparing a gas crisis
Ukraine's Naftogaz believes that Russian Gazprom is preparing a new gas crisis in January and February 2017, as stated by the Ukrainian company's press-service.
Earlier, Ukraine imposed a fine of 172 billion hryvnia on Gazprom. In turn, Miscow said that Kyiv may collect the fine by withdrawing gas. By doing so, the risk of disrupting the gas transit to the EU through Ukrainian territory is possible, the Russian company claims.
"Naftogaz of Ukraine considers the statements of Gazprom about the possibility of terminating the gas supply to consumers in the EU in order to promote their own interests in relations with the EU," the report noted.
The company stressed that this artificial crisis that Russia is preparing could be used to apply pressure on the EU "to promote gas pipelines or to even terminate the anti-monopoly investigation, which is currently conducted by the European Commission."
Naftogaz also noted that it has already proposed, a monitoring mission to the entry and exit points of the Russian gas in the Ukrainian gas transport system, to the European Commission, for the independent monitoring of the transit.
Even though Gazprom appealed Kyiv’s decision, all courts, including the Supreme Court of Ukraine, denied the Russian company’s appeal.