On July 22, the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, admitted the possibility of increasing the volume of gas transit through the territory of Ukraine after the expiration of the contract for gas pumping in 2024.
“The issues of new volumes of gas purchases from Russia for transit through the territory of Ukraine should be resolved on market conditions and at market prices. For the volume of new purchases of Russian gas via the Ukrainian route, in total, higher than the current transit obligations, “Gazprom” is even ready to increase the volume of transit through Ukraine, “RIA Novosti quoted Miller as saying.
He noted that he considers Germany’s participation in the discussion of this topic justified in the light of the outlined plans for decarbonization of the European economy. Miller stressed that from this point of view, Nord Stream 2 is much better suited to the requirements of Brussels.
«[Маршрут поставок через «Северный поток — 2» — Ред.] almost 2 thousand kilometers less to the territory of Germany than through the gas transportation system of Ukraine. And compliance with all the necessary modern environmental requirements. Thus, CO2 emissions through Nord Stream 2 are 5.6 times lower, including due to a decrease in the number of compressor stations than for the Ukrainian route, ”Miller concluded.
Earlier that day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that if there is demand, there will be transit of Russian gas through Ukraine after 2024.
On the same day, Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov said that the issue of gas transit through Ukraine lies in its demand and the volume of supplies, and not in principle. According to him, Moscow has never opposed Ukrainian transit as such.
Earlier on July 22, the head of Naftogaz Ukrainy, Yuriy Vitrenko, suggested that Russia would stop gas transit through Ukrainian territory after 2024. According to him, Russia “uses gas as a geopolitical weapon against Ukraine.” In addition, after the completion of the construction of Nord Stream 2, interest in Kiev as a transit point will disappear, Vitrenko said.
On the same day, it became known that Germany, within the framework of the agreement with the United States on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, had undertaken to take swift action in the event of Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine, as well as to insist on such measures at the EU level.
Nord Stream 2 is being built from Russia to Germany along the Baltic seabed with the aim of direct gas supplies to Europe.