Ukraine and Gazprom Meet Over Gas Supply

 Gazprom chairman Alexei Miller and Ukraine's Energy Minister, Yuri Boiko, have had a fraught meeting over their gas supply deal.

Gazprom, the Russian state gas company, merely recorded that the meeting had taken place on Monday in Moscow.

But other media quoted Mr Boiko as saying Kiev would defend its national interests in the matter, even if this meant legal action.

Mr Boiko said that "We have disputes and they could even be judicial. If there is litigation, let it be so. We are prepared and we have considered this option. In particular, we have also received consultations on the transit contract, which unfortunately does not suit us. Nevertheless, it was signed and despite any frictions with our Russian counterparts we fully honor our commitments to Europe regarding Russian gas transit. Ukraine is willing to defend its national interests in courts.”

He said that "we will act in a way that meets our national interests. We will be defending this in Stockholm, or in London, or in Paris. We have no other choice."

Yesterday it was revealed that gas bought from the Germany supplier RWE would start being piped to Ukraine via Hungary in the New Year.

The contract for the German gas, for 500 bcm,  would save Ukraine about €1.56 billion, Mr Boiko said.

Kiev has become increasingly restive about its 2009 contract with Gazprom, but the Russian company has been unwilling to vary the terms. Up till the end of October the amount of gas taken by Ukraine had reduced by about 25% on the 2011 figures.