Agreement reached to negotiate gas transit in Ukraine-EU-Russia format - Groysman
An agreement has been reached to conduct negotiations on the transit of Russian gas to European consumers in the Ukraine-EU-Russia format, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said at a meeting with European Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.
"We have agreed to hold gas transit negotiations in the trilateral format of the EU, Ukraine, and Russia. Ukraine will take a responsible and firm stance," the Ukrainian government's press service quoted Groysman as saying.
The Ukrainian gas transport network is a solid alternative to Nord Stream 2, which is part of a political project and is a threat to Europe's energy security, he said.
"The sides have agreed to coordinate positions on using the Ukrainian gas transport network on mutually advantageous terms," the press service said.
In addition, Groysman and Sefcovic discussed the integration of Ukraine's unified power grids into the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E). Groysman said the unification of those networks could set a good example for cooperation in other areas. Energy cooperation could be discussed at a meeting of the Ukrainian government's energy reform coordination council, he said.
Sefcovic said earlier that it was time to have the next round of trilateral gas transit talks with Russia and Ukraine.