Putin: Russia ready to sign gas transit contract with Ukraine under EU laws

Russia will sign a gas transit contract if Ukraine implements the European legislation by the end of the year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a corresponding statement during the Russian Energy Week 2019, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta media outlet reports.

In particular, according to Putin, if Ukraine implements the European energy legislation by the end of the year, Moscow will be ready to work within the framework of European legislation and sign a transit agreement with Ukraine pursuant to it.

"If it [Ukraine] is unable to do this - which is quite likely - there are Ukrainian domestic legislative and political procedures that Ukrainian partners still need to undergo. It will not be easy to do. Then we are ready to extend the existing pumping contract for some time, let's say, for a year," Putin said.

He also added that the agreements on gas pumping through Ukraine should be economically feasible for all parties to this process.

The contract for the transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine ends on December 31, 2019.

On September 19, 2019, the third round of negotiations was held in Brussels under the chairmanship of European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and with the participation of delegations of the European Commission, Ukraine and Russia. The next round of trilateral gas talks will take place on October 12.