Any improvement in relations can only be helpful.
Gas transit : Russia and Ukraine agree on gas supplies to Europe Ukraine is the most important transit country for gas supplies to Germany. The old contract would have expired at the end of the year - with consequences for the energy supply. Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement in principle on a new gas transit contract. This was stated by EU Commission Vice-President Maro efovi in Berlin after hours of negotiations between the two countries, mediated by the EU and Germany. Details are still open and will be negotiated in the coming days. Then the treaty should also be signed. According to information from the news agency dpa, the basic agreement provides for an agreement on the future term of the contract as well as on the quantity for gas transit through Ukraine. The agreement in principle seems to have averted potential energy supply bottlenecks in the middle of winter for several European countries. Time was pressing because the current contracts expire at the end of the year, threatening a new gas conflict like the one in 2009. At that time, many apartments in Eastern Europe had remained cold because Kiev and Moscow had been arguing about the prices for gas supplies to Ukraine and for transit. The financially weak Ukraine is also dependent on the transit fees for the transit of the gas to Germany. On Thursday, the energy association BDEW had pointed out that even if the negotiations fail, nobody in Germany need worry that the apartments are not warm. The gas storage facilities in Germany are very well filled, a spokesperson said. "Even this winter, nobody has to freeze." Step towards a solution of the Ukrainian conflict? Gazprom boss Alexei Miller and Nowak took part in the negotiations. Mediators were efovi and Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU). On the Ukrainian side, energy minister Oleksij Orschel, the head of the energy company Naftogaz, Yuri Vitrenko, and the head of the gas transit network, Sergej Makogon, were present. The EU Commission mediated in the negotiations because Ukraine feels that it is under pressure from Russia's market power and considers the prices to be politically controlled. Ukraine also feared that in the future it could lose its position as the most important transit country for Russian gas and thus lose billions in revenues from transit fees. These fears are due to the fact that, in addition to the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline, Russia also wants to complete Nord Stream 2 soon, despite the threat of US sanctions. Russia affirms that transit through Ukraine is still necessary because of the great demand for energy in Europe. However, the country is also demanding that the pipelines there be rehabilitated. A final agreement between the negotiators from Kiev and Moscow would also be an important step for a future solution of the Ukrainian conflict. Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting separatists in the east of the country. War has been raging in eastern Ukraine for more than five years.