Russia may cut off gas supplies to Ukraine from March 10 - Kyiv has no money to pay
Kyiv, February 26 (Navigator, Denis Andreev) – “Naftogaz of Ukraine” has reduced purchases of Russian gas by five times since Monday, writes the newspaper “Kommersant-Ukraine” with reference to the acting. Minister of Energy of Ukraine Eduard Stavitsky.
The official version of what is happening is warm weather in February and a lack of funds. “In a situation where we have difficulties collecting money from the market, as well as a significant gas debt to Russia from previous periods, we decided to buy less fuel,” Stavitsky said.
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The head of the international energy club Q-club, Alexander Todiychuk, notes that Ukraine cannot purchase more gas, because otherwise in March the company will not collect the necessary amount of money to repay the debt to the Russian monopoly. “And then, as of March 10, our gas could be cut off. Moreover, resolving this issue politically, as before, given the complexity of the moment, will not be very, very easy,” Todiychuk explained.
Officially, Russian Gazprom declined to comment. But the publication’s source in the company said that the reduction in gas consumption does not correspond to previously reached agreements with Ukraine on increasing purchases by the end of the year to 35-40 billion cubic meters.
Now Russia sells gas to Ukraine at a discount of $268,5 per thousand cubic meters. If the parties do not agree on its extension by April 10, the price will automatically be determined in accordance with the main contract, that is, it will rise to $390-410 per thousand cubic meters.
Russia may cut off gas supplies to Ukraine from March 10 – Kiev doesn't have the money to pay