Reportedly, three-party ministerial-level talks about the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines are difficult. The Russian gas group Gazprom is in no hurry to sign the contract with the Ukrainian energy company Neftegaz for five or even 10 years, as the E.U. suggests. Gazprom insists that a new contract be valid for one year only.
As a matter of fact, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on the Baltic seabed should have been operational by the end of this year when an agreement on the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine, the main route for exports to Europe, expires. However, Russia is ready to keep up transit via Ukraine if Neftegaz is willing to recall the legal claims from the Stockholm arbitration court, which demand compensation for the loss of gas-transit system value.
According to Ukraine's government officials, even if the talks fail, Neftegaz's reserves of natural gas currently held in underground storage will remain in play. This year Ukraine has pumped the record amount of gas into storage facilities, which will provide Ukrainian households with heat during the cold season.
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