DISINFO: Ukraine is preparing for the disruption of gas transit

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative blaming Ukraine for the disruption of the gas talks between Russia and Ukraine and plans to cut gas transit from Russia to the EU. According to Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Secretary Oleksandr Danylyuk, the extension of the transit is important for Ukraine, and Kyiv is ready to sign a new contract. “There are other factors to be taken into account, including the way the Ukrainian GTS [gas transportation system] works. This is important. The continuation of Russian gas transit would have been irrelevant if not for that. We understand that this is another leverage,” he said. During the recent meeting in Brussels, representatives of Naftogaz confirmed their willingness to reach a new deal. Kyiv supports European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic’s proposal to sign a 10-year transit contract with a guaranteed minimum yearly transit volume of 60 billion cubic metres (bcm) and 30 bcm of additional flexibility. The Ukrainian side also mentioned that the new contract should work under EU law. Ukraine’s Naftogaz handed over a draft interconnection agreement and a draft standard transmission agreement to Gazprom. Naftogaz also presented this to the EU, the future Russian-Ukrainian independent transmission system operator (TSO) and national company GTSOU, as well as providing them with a road map for the completion of the unbundling of the TSO. However, in case a new deal cannot be reached, Ukraine is preparing a Plan B. State gas transport company Ukrtransgaz has already upgraded five gas pumping stations that will be able to provide gas for consumers in the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine in case gas transit is disrupted. It has also pumped almost 20 bcm of gas into the underground gas storage which is a record for the last 7 years; and the amount of gas in storage continues to grow.