“Gazprom” plans natural gas supplies to Ukraine from Slovakia

“Gazprom’s” contract with “Naftogaz” allows Russians to actually manage the Ukrainian gas-transport system up to the European borders, combining the positions of the gas seller and transporter (network operator).

Ukraine currently imports gas from the territory of Poland and Hungary, since it controls the gas-transport system at these zones by itself. German RWE cannot start gas delivery via the Slovakian territory not due to absence of technical capabilities, but due to Russian “Gazprom”, which actually blocks the supply, refusing to agree upon the request for gas transportation to Ukraine (reverse).

“Gazprom” has such a possibility according to its contract with “Naftogaz”, dated 19.01.2009, which has provided for the right of the Russian monopolist to perform the functions of the Ukrainian gas-transport system operator at this segment up to the EU borders.

English translation by BSN