Looking for funds and the ability to sell gas, the Russian side decided to meet most of the tactical requirements of Ukrainian and European sides. This approval process was not as difficult as last year, as the President of the DiXi Group Think Tank Olena Pavlenko considers.
“First of all, Russia has agreed to give Ukraine a discount, which is likely to bring the gas price for Ukraine to the price level in the EU. In addition to the economic payoff, it’s a good political signal, since until recently the territory of Ukraine was regarded as something other than the European energy market, where other prices must exist, with a different methodology of calculation and with the possibility of manual regulation. Now all the parties are “enlivening” the thesis that the Ukrainian energy market is a part of the EU market”, said the expert.
“Secondly, Gazprom has abolished the ‘take or pay’ terms, which are considered discriminatory for the buyer and which have long been disputed by European companies. This year, Czech RWE Transgas won lawsuit related to the issue, and now it will be harder for the Russian party to defend the ‘take or pay’ principle in future negotiations. There is a chance that this norm will eventually disappear in gas purchases between Gazprom and NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine”, summarised Olena Pavlenko.
