Vadym Glamazdin: Gazprom Сonstantly Fails to Fulfill Obligations

The Russian Gazprom is constantly failing to fulfill its obligations with regard to the transit of gas through the territory of Ukraine. Vadym Glamazdin, the Special Envoy on government relations of NJSC ‘Naftogaz of Ukraine’, stated during the 11^th Kyiv Security Forum organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation Open Ukraine.

“Throughout 2017, Gazprom maintained the contractual pressure for only 45 days. All the other time, Gazprom actually allowed gas shortfall notwithstanding the transit contracts on gas to be delivered to Europe... Throughout 2018, of which 100 days has already passed, the contractual pressure was ensured for only 1 day. This, in fact, means that Gazprom does not consistently fulfill its contractual obligations in principle,” he stressed.

Glamazdin believes that as soon as Gazprom switches its attention from Ukraine elsewhere, no European country will be protected from such actions.

He also reminded of the situation prevailing in early March, when Gazprom refused to supply pre-paid gas.

“Gazprom said: no, we do not want to supply you with gas. The contract, prepayment... no, we do not want to supply, and that’s all. They expected to provoke a certain crisis,” Glamazdin noted.

He emphasized that this is the way Gazprom can behave towards anyone, thus the partners should draw conclusions from the experience of Ukraine, in particular, while considering the project of ‘North Stream 2’.

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The annual international event Kyiv Security Forum was launched by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation Open Ukraine in 2007 as a platform for high-level discussions on the current issues in Europe and the Black Sea region. The Forum aims at increasing security cooperation between the EU and the Black Sea region, raising awareness about regional developments among key regional players, promoting the role of independent and non-governmental actors in setting the security agenda in Europe.

The event is being held with the support of NATO Information and Documentation Center in Ukraine, the German Marshall Fund, The Victor Pinchuk Foundation, The Royal Institute of International Relations, Chatham House (UK), and The Regional Representative Office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Ukraine.