Naftogaz, Gazprom haven't held meeting, haven't asked for one - source
A delegation from National JSC Naftogaz Ukrainy has not met with management at Russia's Gazprom to discuss a solution to its debt issue for gas, and no such meeting was planned, a Gazprom source told Interfax.
"The statement by Ukrainian government officials that a Naftogaz delegation, led by company chief Yevhen Bakulin, is in Moscow to discuss a solution to its debt for Russian gas is very surprising indeed," the source said.
"No meetings were held with Bakulin in Moscow, the Ukrainian side did not approach Gazprom with regard to this and Gazprom is not holding any talks. All that Naftogaz should do for now is to simply fulfill its contractual obligations and pay its debt immediately," the source said.
"For those well-versed in the history of gas relations with Ukraine, the claim by Ukrainian officials that Ukraine has always settled with Gazprom for gas looks silly as well. All settlements have been conducted solely thanks to voluntary advance payments by Gazprom for the transit of Russian gas across Ukrainian territory, that is with Gazprom's money. All transit for the coming year has now been pre-paid by Gazprom, and there are no more opportunities for this," the source said.
