Trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine over a post-2019 long-term gas transit agreement

Summary:

Reports and analysis of the negotiations launched by the European Union with Russia and Ukraine to guarantee a long-term agreement over the transit of gas post-2019.

Further information:

The talks were launched by the European Commission in 2018 to make sure a long-lasting deal would guarantee continuous gas supply from Russia into Europe after the end of existing contract in 2019. The first round of negotiations was held in July 2018 and a second round in January 2019. The third round took place in September 2019. Following a fourther round of talks on 28 October, there was still no agreement in sight. On 20 December, both sides announced an agreement had been reached on a protocol specifying the arrangements for the long-term transit of Russian gas via Ukraine to Europe as of 1 January 2020, which was formally signed on 31 December.

Key areas of the discussions included the following:

• The legal framework for a future transit contract;
• Unbundling of the transmissions system operator in Ukraine;
• The European Union's future gas demands.

The security of gas supply for the Winter 2018-19 was also discussed at the meetings. The rounds of negotiations were also attended by executives from Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz.

Official

European Commission: Statement by Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič following the trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine on the future of gas transit via Ukraine, 21 January 2019 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-19-562_en.htm

European Commission: Statement by Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič following the trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine on the future of gas transit to Europe, 19 September 2019 https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-19-5689_en.htm

European Commission: Remarks by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič following trilateral talks on gas transit with Russia and Ukraine, 28 October 2019 https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-19-6178_en.htm

European Commission: Statement of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on the positive outcome of trilateral gas talks, 20 December 2019 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_19_6841

European Commission: Statement by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on the long-term transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine, 31 December 2019 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_19_6869

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News

Reuters, 23/05/2018: EU's energy chief says 'time has come' for new Russia, Ukraine gas talks https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1IO10A

TASS, 23/05/2018: EC vice-president invites Russia and Ukraine for trilateral gas talks http://tass.com/economy/1005688

Deutsche Welle, 17/07/2018: EU 'positive' on Russia-Ukraine gas talks https://p.dw.com/p/31chF

Sputnik International, 25/12/2018: Russia Guarantees Gas Deliveries to EU in Absence of Transit Agreement With Kiev https://sptnkne.ws/ktQr

Irish Times, 21/01/2019: EU urges Moscow-Kiev transit deal as Russian plans fuel tension https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-urges-moscow-kiev-transit-deal-as-russian-plans-fuel-tension-1.3765794

Reuters, 21/01/2019: Russia, Ukraine to hold further gas talks in May https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL8N1ZL4MV

TASS, 21/01/2019: Energy chief comments on Russia-Ukraine gas settlement http://tass.com/economy/1041042

EurActiv, 22/01/2019: Russia plays for time in EU-mediated Ukraine gas transit talks https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/russia-plays-for-time-in-eu-mediated-ukraine-gas-transit-talks/

Reuters, 11/09/2019: EU says will push for progress in next week's Ukraine-Russia gas talks https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1VW1D8

Bloomberg, 18/09/2019: Russia and Ukraine Signal Progress on Natural Gas Transit Deal https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-18/russia-ukraine-gas-talks-set-to-resume-as-eu-seeks-to-avert-cut

Reuters, 19/09/2019: Ukraine, Russia fail to reach gas deal for Europe but agree to meet again https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN1W41W6

RFE/RL, 19/09/2019: Fresh Russia-Ukraine Talks On New Gas Transit Deal Inconclusive https://www.rferl.org/a/fresh-russia-ukraine-talks-on-new-gas-transit-deal-inconclusive/30173736.html

RFE/RL, 03/10/2019: Putin: Russia Ready To Prolong Gas Deal With Ukraine If Needed https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-russia-ready-to-prolong-gas-deal-with-ukraine-if-needed/30196437.html

Reuters, 09/10/2019: Ukraine wants long-term gas transit deal with Russia https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1WO1KQ

Swissinfo.ch, 09/10/2019: Merkel, Zelenskiy spoke about gas transit from Russia via Ukraine - spokesman https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/merkel--zelenskiy-spoke-about-gas-transit-from-russia-via-ukraine---spokesman/45287374

Reuters, 28/10/2019: Russia, Ukraine gas talks need sense of urgency - EU's Sefcovic https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN1X71SG

EurActiv, 29/10/2019: EU-mediated Russia-Ukraine gas talks in deadlock https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-mediated-russia-ukraine-gas-talks-in-deadlock/

The Moscow Times, 29/10/2019: Latest Russia-Ukraine Gas Talks Fail to Bring Breakthrough https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/10/29/russia-ukraine-gas-talks-fail-a67951

Reuters, 10/12/2019: Ukraine's Zelenskiy sees middle ground with Russia on gas transit, rules out 1-year deal https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN1YE02D

RT, 10/12/2019: Russia offers Ukraine cheaper gas under new transit deal, Kiev promises to drop $3bn demand https://www.rt.com/business/475491-putin-ukraine-cheaper-gas/

RFE/RL, 14/12/2019: Ukraine, Russia To Continue Gas-Transit Talks https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-to-continue-gas-transit-talks/30325326.html

Reuters, 20/12/2019: Russia, Ukraine reach deal over gas transit to Europe https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1YO17H

RFE/RL, 21/12/2019: Russia, Ukraine Disclose Details Of New Gas Transit Deal https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-disclose-details-of-new-gas-transit-deal/30337491.html

Bloomberg, 21/12/2019: Gazprom, Ukraine Agree on Gas Transit, Settle Legal Disputes https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-21/gazprom-ukraine-agree-on-transit-volumes-settle-legal-issues

EurActiv, 25/12/2019: Ukraine sets new tariffs for Russian gas transit to Europe https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/ukraine-sets-new-tariffs-for-russian-gas-transit-to-europe/

RFE/RL, 30/12/2019: Russia, Ukraine Reach Five-Year Gas-Transit Deal https://www.rferl.org/a/long-russia-ukraine-reach-five-year-gas-transit-deal/30353000.html

Deutsche Welle, 31/12/2019: Russia, Ukraine sign gas transit deal ahead of deadline https://p.dw.com/p/3VWMS

VOA News, 31/12/2019: Russia, Ukraine Finalize Gas Transit Deal Just Before Deadline https://www.voanews.com/europe/russia-ukraine-finalize-gas-transit-deal-just-deadline

The Moscow Times, 31/12/2019: Russia, Ukraine Clinch Final Deal on Gas Transit to Europe https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/12/31/russia-ukraine-deal-gas-transit-europe-a68784

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Commentary and Analysis

OSW: Commentary, 25/01/2019: A ‘last-minute’ transit contract? Russia-Ukraine-EU gas talks https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2019-01-25/a-last-minute-transit-contract-russia-ukraine-eu-gas-talks

IFRI: IFRI Editorials, April 2019: Russia-Ukraine Gas Relations: The Mother of All Crises or a New Start to 2030? https://www.ifri.org/en/publications/editoriaux-de-lifri/edito-energie/russia-ukraine-gas-relations-mother-all-crises-or-new

RFE/RL, 28/10/2019: Fresh EU-Russia-Ukraine Gas Talks To Take Place In Brussels https://www.rferl.org/a/fresh-eu-russia-ukraine-gas-talks-to-take-place-in-brussels-as-winter-approaches/30239786.html

EurActiv: Special Reports: Ukraine gas transit: What’s at stake https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/special_report/preserving-ukraines-gas-transit/

Euro|topics, December 2019: Russia and Ukraine sign new gas contract https://www.eurotopics.net/en/232619/

OSW: Commentary, 31/12/2019: Temporary stabilisation: Russia-Ukraine gas transit deal https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2019-12-31/temporary-stabilisation-russia-ukraine-gas-transit-deal

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