Ukraine halts Russian gas purchases in new price spat July 1, 2015 - 12:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine announced on Tuesday, June 30 the immediate suspension of all Russian gas purchases after EU-mediated negotiations aimed at keeping supplies running for at least three more months broke down, AFP reports. The state energy company Naftogaz said it would still continue transporting Russian gas supplies westward to its other European client states. But "since the additional agreement between Naftogaz and Gazprom is expiring on June 30, and the terms of further Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine were not agreed at today's trilateral talks in Vienna, Naftogaz is suspending purchases from the Russian company," the Ukrainian firm said in a statement. The surprising decision marks the second time in less than a year that Russian fuel supplies have stopped running to its westward-leaning former Soviet neighbour. Moscow dramatically hiked the price it charges Ukraine in the wake of the February 2014 ouster of Kremlin-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych. The European Union - mindful of the repeated price battles because Russia supplies its 28 member nations with about a third of their natural gas needs - has since been able to broker a series of agreements that need to be renewed every three months. Kiev is also increasingly relying on supplies from central European countries and energy-rich Norway. Ukraine has actually received more gas via pipelines running through Slovakia than those coming from Russia in the first three weeks of June. Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak called Ukraine's Tuesday decision "unfortunate". Russia employs complex pricing formulas that vary from country to country and are loosely tied to the global price of oil. The opaque system is being challenged both by Brussels and a growing list of EU state gas firms. But the Kremlin denies wielding energy as a political weapon against countries - particularly those overseen by Moscow during the Cold War - that try to shake off their dependence on Russia and build closer links with the West.  Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia.Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |
