Putin Gives Blessing to Russia-Ukraine Gas Integration

Russian President Putin confirmed Thursday that Ukraine may gain access to Russian gas fields in exchange for a stake in the Ukrainian gas transit system. Ukrainian energy officials have offered Gazprom three plans to bring this idea to life, Kommersant’s sources report. Russia favors the option under which will let a joint venture buy the Ukrainian gas transit assets. Kyiv is willing to say “yes” in exchange for access to Russian natural resources with the guaranteed supply of up to 50 billion cu. meters of gas annually.

Speaking at his annual press conference in Kremlin on Thursday President Putin said that Russia and Ukraine are now discussing “the merger of assets, and Ukrainian partners would like to create a gas transport consortium and also enter producing assets in Russia.”
Kommersant