Ukraine has put forward security conditions for Azerbaijan and Slovakia to continue supplying gas through its territory, informs “RBK-Ukraine”. The main requirement is the agreement between these countries and Russia regarding the inadmissibility of shelling the objects of the Ukrainian gas transportation system.
According to the publication, such deliveries will be possible only under the condition of security guarantees from Azerbaijan or Slovakia. Currently, consultations on the continuation of gas supplies to the EU after 2024 are proceeding rather slowly. Azerbaijan has not taken an active part in the negotiations for several months.
“I think that the reduction of activity in Baku to almost zero is connected with the position of Russia, which in one way or another has to participate in this process,” the interlocutor of the publication suggested.
Detailed negotiations with Slovakia have not yet begun.
We will remind that Ukraine offered Slovakia and Azerbaijan a new gas supply scheme through its territory to the European Union. This scheme involves storing gas in Ukrainian underground storage facilities with subsequent delivery to Slovakia or other countries, which will be classified as re-export, not transit. However, the parties are currently only holding consultations on this issue.
Earlier, Russia repeatedly shelled gas facilities in Ukraine, in particular in the western regions, which damaged the above-ground parts of underground gas storage facilities. The attacks caused concern among gas traders and sent gas prices higher in Europe, even though the gas pipelines are located deep underground.
