Ukraine Will Not Steal Russian Gas to Europe, Says Kiev

Arm-wrestling between Ukraine and Russia continued on Wednesday, with Kiev answering in a resentful tone to Moscow. A Russian official said on Tuesday that he expected Kiev to start stealing gas when its own supplies emptied out, but Ukraine’s Energy Minister Yuri Prodan firmly rejected the accusation.

"We are not taking such gas today and have no plans to take it," Prodan said on Wednesday.

Ukraine is also stepping up efforts to investigate the activity of all persons, including MPs, posing a threat to its independence.  

“This is not a ban on a political party, this is a ban on those undermining Ukrainian independence, struggling against the Ukrainian state and blowing up the foundations of the constitutional order in the country,” Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk said in a separate statement, referring to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday to ban the Communist Party of Ukraine.

A few hours before, Ukrtransgaz said that the country registered a 20% year-on-year increase in gas import from Europe in June. 

‘During June 2014 total gas flow to Ukrainian transmission system from Poland and Hungary was 329.3 mcm, which is 20% (67 mcm) more than in the same period of year 2013,’ reads a note published early in the morning. 

Meanwhile, Naftogaz announced bid solicitation from companies willing to supply gas to Ukraine from Hungary.

‘Shipment is to take place using free transmission capacity at the entry point Beregdaróc, Hungary. Naftogaz invites gas suppliers to turn in their bids stipulating payment after 10 days delivery period,’ the company said on its website.