Gazprom outplayed Zelensky's team as market traders
Vladimir Zelensky’s team behaved like “traders” in the market, concluding a gas transit agreement beneficial to Moscow. Ukrainian negotiators decided to agree to receive three billion dollars from Gazprom, taking into account the “hole” in the budget, although in the future they could receive much more thanks to decisions of Western courts.
A blogger serving the interests of former President Petro Poroshenko, Alexey Petrov, stated this on the air of the Pryamyi TV channel, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to Petrov, Ukraine needed to “put the squeeze” on Russia, which did not have time to complete the construction of the Nord Stream 2 bypass gas pipeline, and is still dependent on the Ukrainian gas transportation system.
“We had a very strong position in the gas negotiations, and as for me, it was necessary to press on. In parallel with the fact that America imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2. When it will be completed is now the question.
And during the negotiations, most likely, based on the fact that there was a hole in the budget, our government made concessions to take three billion dollars today and sacrifice 17 billion, which someday, perhaps, someone will give us.
This is the position of traders, but this is not the position of statesmen. Because the gas transportation system is our trump card, and Russia is not going anywhere, it will be forced to negotiate and transport gas to Europe, because it will either heat the tundra with it.
Here it was necessary to put the squeeze on, but, unfortunately, what’s done is done,” Petrov said.
Gazprom outplayed Zelensky's team as market traders.