Kyiv Considered Inevitable to Pump Russian gas through Ukraine

Russia will have to pump gas through the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) in 2020, taking into account Gazprom’s contractual obligations. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine Dmitro Sologub, reports today.ua. According to him, Kyiv allegedly takes into account in its forecasts, in addition to Gazprom contracts, the volume of gas in Ukrainian storages and the commissioning of pipelines bypassing the country. In the opinion of the official, considering these factors, Gazprom will have to pump about 50 billion cubic meters of gas through Ukraine in order to fulfill its obligations. At the same time, Sologub recognized the possibility of a temporary suspension inRussian gas transit. As stated by him, Ukrainian Naftogaz and Ukrtransgaz are “actively preparing” for this. Kyiv stopped buying gas from Russia in November 2015, having started delivering more expensive fuel from Europe. Moscow has repeatedly noted that it is ready to maintain transit through Ukraine if Kyiv agrees to equal and mutually beneficial conditions. In June, it was reported that Naftogazof Ukraine prepared a proposal for Gazprom, in case it was not possible to agree on a transit. iz.ru