Ukraine said it will not allow Russian gas to enter Europe
If Moscow does not agree with Kyiv’s demands and does not sign a long-term contract guaranteeing the loading of the Ukrainian gas transportation system, after the termination of the current agreement on January 1, Ukraine intends to accept Russian gas, but not release it to the West – to Europe.
Yuriy Vitrenko, executive director of Naftogaz of Ukraine, stated this in an interview with the Ukrainian edition of Deutsche Welle, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“This is the official position of Ukrainian legislation. That is, if gas enters the territory of Ukraine without documentation, then, on the one hand, we cannot and will not close the valves, stopping the flow of gas, but at the same time, Ukrainian legislation will not allow the gas transmission system operator to release this gas anywhere without documentation.
Therefore, it will be pumped into underground gas storage facilities as gas of an “undetermined owner,” and we will wait for documentation, and only after that the operator will be able to send this gas to where the owner with the appropriate documents says to send this gas,” Vitrenko said.
At the same time, he did not specify how the storage facilities will accommodate gas volumes, because, as the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine stated the day before, record reserves have already been pumped into them to cover the winter period in the event of a Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
Vitrenko emphasized that refusal to transport gas to the EU will not be considered theft, because according to the documents, the fuel will be considered ownerless.
“On the contrary, we are just showing that, firstly, Ukraine has never stolen gas. We are saying that if gas is supplied without documentation, that is, it is not clear whose gas it is, then Ukraine, instead of somehow using or giving this gas to someone, will reliably store it. Completely, that's all.
He will not steal it, will not take it, will not consume it, will not do anything with it, but will store it - until the owner comes with the documents.
If you have lost, relatively speaking, luggage, there is a special department called lost and found, which will find your luggage and, accordingly, give it to you. Here is a similar situation here: there is a gas storage facility, the gas will be stored reliably until these volumes of gas are documented,” said Yuriy Vitrenko.
Vitrenko regards Gazprom’s reluctance to supply fuel in such a situation as intimidation.
“I would like to remind you that in the letter that Gazprom sent to Naftogaz, it is written in black and white that on January 1 at 10 o’clock Moscow time, Gazprom will have no reason for gas to flow to Ukraine.
Therefore, this is not about what we will do with this gas, but about the fact that Gazprom has very clearly stated that it will actually turn off the valve. And, given the details that are mentioned in the letter - 10 am Moscow time - this reads like intimidation or some kind of agenda. In fact, you read this and Levitan’s voice is in your ears,” said the head of Naftogaz.
Vitrenko emphasized that, in turn, Naftogaz’s statement about its intention to pump “orphan” gas into the UGS facility is not intimidation.
“On the contrary, we reassure everyone and say: don’t worry, nothing will happen to your gas. If he arrives, he will wait for his owner, patiently, when the owner comes with the completed documents,” said Yuri Vitrenko.
Ukraine has stated that it will not allow Russian gas to enter Europe.