Miller threatens Ukrainian Naftogaz with sanctions
Gazprom chief Alexei Miller threatens Ukraine's national oil and gas company with sanctions. Miller accuses Naftogaz representatives of illegal litigation and the company's failure to meet its contractual obligations. Miller claims that the Kiev-based energy company's management is taking a non-constructive attitude to the organisation of Russian gas transit to Europe.
The head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, says that Naftogaz, under exaggerated pretexts, is violating its contractual obligations to Gazprom and refusing to accept Russian gas at Sokhranivka, but at the same time demanding payment for its transit.
"Naftogaz has already filed a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Russia in US courts. If such dishonest actions by Naftogaz continue, it cannot be excluded that this could lead to the imposition of sanctions by the Russian Federation. Then any relations between Russian companies and Naftogaz will simply be impossible," Alexei Miller said on Telegram.
In April, Ukraine's national natural gas company Naftogaz announced that the Russian Federation is obliged by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to pay compensation for damages caused to the company with the annexation of Crimea. The Ukrainian side has threatened that if Moscow refuses, Kiev could seek enforcement of the court's decision in countries where Russian assets exist. On 23 June, Naftogaz and five affiliated companies filed a claim in the US District Court for the District of Columbia seeking the forced recovery of $5bn from Russia.
