Chief Executive Officer of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev has expressed fears that the Russian side will do everything to delay negotiations on the extension of the contract for gas transit through Ukraine, expecting possible changes in the country’s top officials and policy. “Most likely, they are waiting for elections in Ukraine and they want to see if there is any change in power and the country’s political course. They will do everything possible to launch the Nord Stream 2 pipeline construction,” Kobolev told the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Kobolev said Russians now express readiness to study the issue of moving to work within the framework of European legislation, but they are stalling and trying to introduce the issue of negotiating settlement agreements in a trilateral format.
“Until recently, Russians’ position was not constructive. Before the agreement on something under the transit contract, they want to talk about amicable deals within the Stockholm litigation, that is, raise questions that are unacceptable not only for us, but for any party , which won in court,” he said.
Kobolev expressed hope the third party of the negotiations represented by the European Commission would have an impact on Russia, since stalling the process is not advantageous to Ukraine and European consumers of Russian gas.
“As our experience shows, a force majeure signing at the end of 2019 would be a very bad story. I hope that the position of Europeans may lead to a change in the tactics of Russians and they will be forced to negotiate before the end of 2019 about a new format of relations from January 2020. We are working actively on this now. The European Commission is in agreement with us in the application of European law. If we agree on this as a basis, then all further actions become much easier and more effective,” Kobolev said.
