President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting in Ukrtransgaz regarding the attempt of Russia and Gazprom to disrupt the implementation of the contract for the gas supply to Ukraine.
“First and foremost – critical situation with the supply of gas due to the attempt of the Russian Federation and Gazprom to disrupt the implementation of the contract for the gas supply to Ukraine has already passed,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
The President stressed that immediately after the threats of Gazprom, he had given respective instructions and the Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Naftogaz of Ukraine had taken decisive steps to prevent the cessation of gas supplies.
“Now, this morning, we have a sharp increase in gas supplies from the European Union, from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary. The entire deficit has been completely covered,” Petro Poroshenko noted.
He recalled that in accordance with the decision of the Stockholm arbitration tribunal, Ukraine had to buy 4 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom and, having received the bill, NJSC Naftogaz paid the amount stated therein, expecting the corresponding amount of gas to go to Ukraine. “15 minutes before March 1, when it was time to start supplying Russian gas, we were told that there would be no gas. And they made an attempt to return the money,” he said.
According to the President, this was the reason of yesterday’s actions on limiting gas consumption in Ukraine.
“Today, we have a stabilized gas supply situation. We have enough gas in the underground storage facilities. We have and had 2 billion more than last year,” he stressed.
The President also noted that the amount of gas taken from the gas storage facilities is 112.8-115 million cubic meters per day. “This is the maximum amount we have taken from the underground storage facilities,” he said.
