Russia discusses gas supplies via Ukraine with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Gazprom Head Alexei Miller held consultations in Moscow on Saturday with representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Moldova regarding ensuring transit gas supplies via Ukraine.

Representatives of economy, finance and energy ministries of Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Moldova have participated in the consultations, a Russian Energy Ministry spokesperson told Interfax.

"Consultation participants noted that trade and economic relations with Russia and the countries represented at the meeting are developing gradually and our countries are reliable partners," the Energy Ministry said.

"Participants have expressed concern about the situation, which has recently emerged, regarding payments and debt growth of Ukraine for gas supplied from Russia, which among other things leads to insufficient gas level in underground storages of Ukraine, which in its turn could lead to Ukraine not fulfilling obligations on gas transit and decrease of natural gas supplies to South-Eastern Europe via Ukraine in the coming future," the spokesperson said.

Russia has expressed concern about deteriorating trade balance of Ukraine and prospects of its trade and economic relations with the CIS countries, the spokesperson said.

"The Russian party assumes that part of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stabilizing loan being allocated to Ukraine should be used to pay debt for natural gas supplies, which have already been carried out to Ukraine, and hopes that the European Union will take measures aimed at European financial institutions allocating as quickly as possible financials help, which will be used among other things on ensuring Ukraine pays for natural gas supplies of Gazprom," the Energy Ministry said.

"This will allow avoiding unsanctioned gas pumping from transit volumes to Ukraine and will assist further enhancement of the European energy security," the Energy Ministry said.

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