Little attack

Gazprom, after the decision of the Stockholm arbitration in favor of the Ukrainian Naftogaz, begins the procedure for terminating the contract for the supply and transit of gas with the Ukrainian company. This was stated by the Chairman of the Board of Gazprom Alexei Miller.

Gazprom is forced to immediately begin the procedure for terminating contracts with NAC Naftogaz of Ukraine for the supply and transit of gas in Stockholm arbitration, ”Interfax quotes Miller. According to the head of Gazprom, asymmetric“ arbitration solution ”significantly violated the balance of interests of the parties according to these contracts.”

"The arbitrators argued their decision with a sharp deterioration in the state of the Ukrainian economy. We are categorically against our expense to solve the economic problems of Ukraine. In this situation, the continuation of the operation of contracts for Gazprom is economically inappropriate and unprofitable," Miller said.

The European Commission called on Russia and Ukraine to immediately find the decision of the gas dispute. "From the point of view of the commission, the current situation causes concern not only for direct supply of natural gas to Ukraine, but also for gas transit to the EU," the European Commission said. The EC expressed their readiness to mediate in negotiations between the two countries.

In Naftogaz, Ukrainians were called upon for 3-4 days to lower the temperature in residential premises by 1-2 degrees. "This will reduce the need for gas by 8-9 percent, and this will be enough for Russian blackmail to fail," the company noted. The initiative of Naftogaz was supported by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. The head of state called on state institutions to save warmth. “Thanks to our cohesion, Gazprom and the Kremlin will not be able to blackmail Ukraine,” Poroshenko emphasized.

In connection with the gas shortage in Ukraine until March 6, universities, schools and kindergartens stopped working.

On the eve of Gazprom, Naftogaz returned the prepayment for gas supplies for March. The Russian company explained that they could not start deliveries, since they did not agree with Naftogaz an additional agreement to the contract.

Since November 25, 2015, Ukraine stopped the purchase of Russian gas . In June 2016, Miller said that Naftogaz was asking for gas supplies from the second half of the year. A month later, Kobolev assured that Ukraine will purchase Russian gas only if Gazprom sign an additional agreement to the 2009 agreement on fuel supply.