Russia continues supplying gas to eastern Donbas bypassing Ukraine

Макроэкономика 06.04.2015 Supplies of Russian gas to (the occupied territory of Ukrainian) Donbas are ongoing, Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak reported to journalists, as cited by Interfax on Apr. 6. According to Novak, since Feb. 19, Russia has supplied about 400 mcm of natural gas to the occupied Donbas bypassing Ukraine. According to Novak, the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom is requesting its Ukrainian counterpart Naftogaz to pay for that gas, while the latter does not recognize such supplies. Novak also stated that new talks on the gas issue between Russia and Ukraine might happen in Berlin on April 13, Interfax report. “I, for example, will be in Berlin on April 13. The EU Energy commissioner has also been invited there” Novak clarified. Alexander Paraschiy: Based on statistics provided by Novak, it seems that since Feb. 19, Russia has supplied to the occupied Donbas the same amount of natural gas as it has to the entire non-occupied Ukraine. That seems too much. There is clearly no reason for Ukraine to pay for that gas, given that Naftogaz had not ordered it and did not measure it. Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev cited “humanitarian purposes” when explaining the decision to supply natural gas to the occupied territory. If Ukraine starts paying for “humanitarian” gas, later it will also have to pay for all “humanitarian” convoys that Russia is sending to occupied Ukraine to strengthen the combat effectiveness of the “humanitarian” aid receivers.