Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz discuss winter preparations

Russian top gas producer Gazprom and Ukraine’s state gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy have discussed issues related to preparations to autumn-winter period in Minsk, Gazprom reported on Friday.

Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and the head of Naftogaz Andgrey Kobolev discussed the current cooperation of the companies and preparations of the Ukrainian gas company to the coming autumn-winter season.

As TASS reported earlier the next bilateral gas meeting between Russia and the European Commission may be held in early September. The next trilateral gas meeting (EU, Russia, Ukraine – TASS) may be held at the end of September, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Canete said on Thursday. “So far we plan bilateral meetings with both sides. The first will be held on August 27 with Ukraine’s Minister [of energy and coal industry Vladimir – TASS] Demchishin, and another one with the Russian side – probably in early September. Trilateral talks may be held at the end of September,” he said. The European Commission sent a list of issues for accommodation, including price formation with discount and minimal gas purchases, to Russian and Ukrainian colleagues, Commissioner said. “This document will be discussed first of all at bilateral meetings,” he said.

On Wednesday, Demchishin said bilateral talks for gas supplies to Ukraine in Ukraine-European Commission format planned for August 27-28, will be held with participation of representatives of the US Government. “The meeting will be held on /August/ 27-28 in Vienna. The US partners are expected to attend it,” he said, adding that representatives of the US Government will participate in the talks. “This will be a bilateral format while the US delegation will be attending non-officially,” he said.