WASHINGTON, July 2 (RIA Novosti) - Dominique Ristori, Director General for Energy for the European Commission told RIA Novosti on Tuesday that he is hopeful an agreement will be reached in the ongoing energy disputes between Russia and Ukraine by the end of the month.
“I hope we will announce treaties probably before the end of this month," Ristori told RIA Novosti following a presentation at the Center for Strategic International Studies. “We will develop all efforts in order to finish an agreement between Ukraine and Russia."
The Director General for Energy declined to respond whether Europe was willing to subsidize Ukrainian gas purchases and only repeated his hopes that trilateral discussions between Russia, Ukraine, and the EU will bring a favorable outcome.
Responding to whether or not Russian natural gas could ever be supplanted as an energy source in Europe, Mr. Ristori stated, “We have to consider all aspects and all opportunities.” He continued that “diversification of suppliers will be absolutely key, and for that we will use all possibilities existing in the market.”
After multiple rounds of failed talks on Ukraine’s debt repayment to Russia mediated by the EU Energy Commission, on June 16 Gazprom was forced to introduce advance payment scheme for gas deliveries to Ukraine. Currently Ukraine’s Naftogaz owes Gazprom approximately $4.5 billion worth of gas already delivered.
In a July 1 meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Kiev’s violation of its gas contracts, while demanding lower prices is a form of blackmail. “Kiev refuses to pay its debts and resorts to pure blackmail,” said Putin at a meeting with Russian ambassadors and permanent envoys.
