The European Union threatens sanctions if Russia reduces gas supplies
Kyiv, September 25 (PolitNavigator, Yuriy Kovalchuk) – The EU demanded that the Russian energy giant not use gas supplies as a weapon in its confrontation with Ukraine, writes the French agency Agence France-Press.
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EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said he hoped to reach a “temporary compromise” with Russia over gas supplies to Ukraine during a trilateral meeting in Berlin on Friday.
Despite the cessation of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine, the country is still a transit country for large volumes of gas destined for Russia's other European clients. However, EU countries fear that Kyiv may not begin unauthorized withdrawal of European gas during the heating season, the agency reports.
“The energy sector as a whole should not be a political tool. This should not be a weapon during a political crisis between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Russia and Europe,” Oettinger said in Kyiv at a forum on European energy security.
Ukraine currently transports half of the Russian gas used in European countries. But countries such as Italy receive Russian gas only through the Ukrainian gas transportation system.
As reported by AFP, the European Commissioner also hinted that if an agreement cannot be reached at the meeting in Berlin, EU countries may be forced to expand their current list of sanctions against Russia to include the gas sector.
“We want to avoid the worst-case scenario. It was our position and mine to avoid sanctions against the gas industry. We really hope that we can get enough gas from Russia,” Ettinger said.
English version :: Read in English The European Union threatens sanctions if Russia reduces gas supplies