The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday Russian media
reports that Kiev was planning to involve the United States in
modernizing its Soviet-era gas pipeline network, RIA Novosti informed. The Russian
daily Izvestia reported Wednesday that under a strategic partnership
charter signed between Ukraine and the United States, Washington would
help the ex-Soviet republic modernize its worn-out gas pipelines.
The paper added that both Russia, which transits about 80% of its gas
supplies to Europe via Ukraine, and the European Union had long been
concerned over the poor state of the Ukrainian gas pipes and were
prepared to invest in their repairs, but Kiev had resisted outside
involvement in its gas network.
"The charter indeed has
provisions on the involvement of the U.S. in modernizing the Ukrainian
gas transportation system. The charter stipulates specific mechanisms
of energy cooperation, primarily, the start of work of a bilateral
working group on energy security and a closer dialog between Ukraine,
the U.S. and the EU over enhanced energy security," the ministry said.
The Foreign Ministry also said Ukraine was interested in finding
investors for the modernization of its gas transportation system that
would not advance any political demands and would not attempt to exert
political pressure on Ukraine.
Deputy Foreign Minister
Konstantyn Yeliseyev said on Wednesday Ukraine needed 2.5 billion euros
($3.3 billion) to modernize and expand its gas transportation network.
Ukraine and Russia have been embroiled in a bitter gas dispute over gas
prices and a new contract on natural gas supplies, which resulted in
the suspension of gas supplies to Ukraine on January 1. Russian energy
giant Gazprom cut off supplies to Europe a week later saying Ukraine
was stealing gas intended for EU consumers.
Following
mediation by the EU, the two sides agreed to resume supplies, but
deliveries have not restarted, with each side blaming the other over
the impasse.
