Ukraine energy minister: Russia blocks gas price talks to promote South Stream

Following trilateral talks on gas pricing involving Russia and Ukraine and hosted on the 11 June 2014 by the European Commission, Yuri Prodan, the Ukrainian energy minister, told EurActiv that Russia obstructed progress on purpose, as it wanted to convince its EU partners about the advantages of the Gazprom-favoured South Stream pipeline, which is intended to bypass Ukraine.

On the 12 June 2014, Russian gas exporter Gazprom stated that it would halt supplies to Ukraine if it failed to pay off part of its gas debts by the 16 June, raising fears of gas flow disruptions to Europe.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Barroso warns Bulgaria on South Stream / Oettinger: EU help in resolving South Stream’s legal problems is conditional http://www.europeansources.info/record/barroso-warns-bulgaria-on-south-stream-oettinger-eu-help-in-resolving-south-streams-legal-problems-is-conditional/

ESO: Background information: Russia says it will halt gas deliveries if Ukraine doesn’t pay http://www.europeansources.info/record/energy-and-the-ukrainian-crisis-russia-says-it-will-halt-gas-deliveries-if-ukraine-doesnt-pay/

Deutsche Welle, 11.06.14: Russia, Ukraine trade barbs after gas talks end in stalemate http://dw.de/p/1CGoJ

BBC News, 11.06.14: Putin: Russia offered gas deal to help Ukraine economy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27805414

EurActiv, 13.06.14: Gazprom threatens to stop gas deliveries to Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/gazprom-threatens-stop-gas-deliveries-ukraine-302783

Deutsche Welle, 15.06.14: Ukraine mourns plane victims, awaits last-minute gas talks with Russia http://dw.de/p/1CIh0

RIA Novosti, 11.06.14: Russia Ready to Review Ukraine’s Gas Debt, Scrap Prepayment Scheme – Energy Minister http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140611/190500046/Russia-Ready-to-Review-Ukraines-Gas-Debt-Scrap-Prepayment-Scheme.html

EurActiv [Opinion], 27.06.14: Some European leaders just don’t get it about Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/some-european-leaders-just-dont-get-it-about-ukraine-303116

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