Ukraine unilaterally changed basic provisions of transit monitoring rules

"The declaration, which the Ukrainian side added to the Transit Monitoring Rules signed by Russia and the European Union, means that Ukraine has unilaterally changed the basic principles of the document.

The text of the declaration has not been yet submitted to the Russian side, however, it has become public and we got acquainted with it.

We shall leave without comment the political part of the document related to reliable Russian gas transit through the Ukrainian territory and unsanctioned withdrawal of the gas, as well as indebtedness for the supplied gas. The Russian position on the above- mentioned issues has been numerously explained in detail. We believe technical aspects outlined in the Ukrainian declaration are more important today.

At the time when Russian and EU experts have agreed on the technical monitoring terms and on operating instructions for controlling commission members, Ukraine again occupied a destructive position.

Ukraine demands that Russia daily supplies to it for free 21 million cubic meters of gas to secure the transit. However, according to the existing transit contract, Naftogaz Ukrainy has to use for technological needs either its own gas or buy it from Gazprom or any other supplier. Another option is to buy it from the purchasers of Russian export gas that is transited through the Ukrainian territory.

Besides, the Ukrainian declaration provides a maximum term of two months for the work of the commission. We believe the commission has to work until the conflict with the gas transit to European consumers is resolved completely and until all judicial examination of the dispute is over. By the way, Ukraine will face lawsuits also for outstanding gas debts worth 614 million dollars," said Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov.