OT 16:34:30 15-05-2014
MH1633OT.011
PUTIN - LETTER - EU - GAS

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Dear colleagues,
In early April we suggested immediate consultations in order
to work out a coordinated approach to stabilise the Ukrainian
economy and ensure stable deliveries and transit of Russian
natural gas in accordance with contractual terms.
Over a month has passed. Consultations with the
representatives of a number of non-EU countries have taken place
in Moscow, in which our partners told us they completely shared
our concerns over the situation with Ukrainian payments for gas
deliveries from the Russian Federation and the risks due to
insufficient amounts of gas being stored in Ukrainian
underground storages.
As regards EIJ countries, we have only had one meeting in
Warsaw with a delegation led by European Commissioner for Energy
Gunther Oettinger, attended also by Ukrainian representative
Yuri Prodan. Unfortunately, we have to say that we have not
received any specific proposals from our partners as to how to
stabilise the situation with the Ukrainian buying company so
that it can meet its contractual obligations and ensure reliable
transit.
Moreover, the situation with payments for Russian gas only
got worse over this period of time. Gazprom has not received a
single payment for the gas supplied to Ukraine, and the total
debt has grown from $2,237 billion to $3,508 billion.
And this despite the fact that Ukraine has received the
first tranche of the IMF loan to the amount of $3.2 billion.
Given the circumstances, the Russian company has issued an
advance invoice for gas deliveries to Ukraine, which is
completely in accordance with the contract, and after June 1 gas
deliveries will be limited to the amount prepaid by the
Ukrainian company.
I would like to emphasise once again that we were forced to
make this decision. The Russian Federation is still open to
continue consultations and work together with European countries
in order to normalise the situation. We also hope that the
European Commission will more actively engage in the dialogue in
order to work out specific and fair solutions that will help
stabilise the Ukrainian economy.

/МХ/