Russia's energy monopolist Gazprom passed the documents on breaking 2009 gas contracts with Naftogaz-Ukraine. The papers were sent on April 20, Kommersant says.
Gazprom's representatives admitted that the consideration process may last for a while - which is why the Russian side cannot avoid paying the 2.6-billion dollar fine and supplying 110 billion cubic meters of gas via Ukraine to the EU within two years. According to the company's CEO Aleksei Miller, the period of consideration may last up to two years.
The actual contract expires on December 31, 2019. According to Miller, Gazprom is ready to negotiate with Ukraine on the gas transit after 2019, but at first, Ukraine needs to prove the economic reasons for such transit via its territory.
