Putin Promised to Continue Gas Transit through Ukraine

Putin assured German business leaders that gas transit through Ukraine would continue after the launch of Nord Stream 2. German business emphasized the importance of maintaining both channels of Russian gas supplies to Europe. Russia will supply gas to Europe through the territory of Ukraine even after the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will connect Russia with Germany directly. The launch of a new gas pipeline does not mean that Russia will stop gas transit through Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with German business leaders in Sochi on Friday, December 6. German representatives also insisted on maintaining the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. "Time is running out. It is important to preserve gas transit through Ukraine, because it will ensure long-term and reliable supplies of Russian gas to Europe. Amid growing gas demand, both pipelines are needed - both through the Baltic Sea and through Ukraine,  said Deputy Chair of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and Chair of the Supervisory Board at CLAAS KGaA mbH Cathrina Claas-Muhlhauser. At a meeting with German business leaders, Putin insisted that Nord Stream 2, which should be completed by the end of 2019, is a “purely commercial project” the Russian government takes almost no part in it. “In order to prevent loose interpretation, I have repeatedly said this, and want to say again that this does not mean that Russia is going to stop gas transit through Ukraine. This is not an issue of territory, but rather of economic expediency”, said the Russian President. Difficulties in concluding a new gas transit deal Ukraine fears losing income from Russian gas transit after the launch of Nord Stream 2. Moscow and Kyiv, through the mediation of the European Union, have been negotiating for many weeks to extend the transit deal, which expires at the end of 2019, but there are no results yet. Vladimir Putin noted the presence of a number of problems in these negotiations. “The interrogative positions of the parties are difficult to implement,” the Russian president admitted. At the same time, he expressed the hope that in the end a solution would be found acceptable to all. Earlier, Putin criticized Ukraine for demanding, in his opinion, high payment for the transit of Russian gas. Putin every year meets with representatives of German business, emphasizing the importance of Germany for Russia as a trading partner. “We appreciate very much the pragmatism of the German economy and the willingness to cooperate,” he said at meetings in Sochi. DW