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Naftogaz Chief: Ukraine Can Still Supply Gas to Europe in Early 2020 Without
Russia Deal

Tatiana Vorozhko

   The head of Ukraine's state-owned oil company says Kyiv will remain
   able to supply Europe with natural gas from its subterranean storage
   units even if European Union-mediated talks don't pan out.

   "We are fully confident that Ukraine can maintain gas supply ... at
   least during the first quarter of 2020," Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev
   said Friday at a public event in Brussels.

   On Thursday, Russia and Ukraine held their third round of
   ministerial-level talks in Brussels about the transit of Russian
   natural gas to Europe, where all parties hoped to negotiate [1]a new
   long-term agreement on gas flows before the current deal expires
   January 1.

   Ukrainian energy authorities are worried Moscow could stop supplies
   through Ukraine when the current contract expires, possibly limiting
   gas deliveries to Europe in winter.

   Although EU Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said "a certain sense of
   urgency was really present in the room" throughout Thursday's talks, no
   formal commitments were made.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/europe/russia-ukraine-move-ahead-eu-talks-avert-supply-cut

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