Ukraine and Russia in spat over Turkmen gas

A number of unpublished agreements purportedly signed between the governments of Ukraine and Turkmenistan for the purchase of natural gas have inflamed a conflict between Kiev and Moscow over natural-gas deliveries from Turkmenistan.

The Russian newspaper Kommersant-Daily on April 14 reported that during Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s visit to Ashgabat on March 22-23 he signed a long-term agreement set to begin in 2006 by which Ukraine would purchase 50-60 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Turkmen gas annually through 2026. Ukraine would buy 38 bcm for its own use, while the remaining 12-22 bcm would be sold to Western Europe.