Russian-Ukrainian gas talks not endangering supplies to Europe - Shmatko
MOSCOW. Dec 26 (Interfax) - The Russian-Ukrainian talks on the terms for gas supplies to Ukraine do not put Russian gas supplies to Europe at risk, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said in an interview with the Russia 24 TV channel.
"Talks are being held on optimizing the terms for gas supplies to Ukraine. The talks have a certain logic of their own, but they have nothing to do with the terms for transit and security of supplies to Europe," he said.
Russia and Ukraine already have a "dependable contract base" for gas supplies. "In this respect there'll be no gas wars," Shmatko said.
Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz have a long-term contract for the period to 2019. But Ukraine is asking Gazprom for new discounts for gas. Russia has said new discounts will only be possible if Gazprom is allowed to own Ukrainian gas sector assets. Ukrainian press reports said last week that draft intergovernmental agreements on new terms for partnership had emerged in which Gazprom would receive half of the shares in Ukrainian trunk gas pipeline, storage and distribution assets.