Over the past few months, a conflict has continued between the Russian Gazprom and the Ukrainian Naftogaz. The reason for the conflict is banal and somewhat ugly - Ukraine refuses to pay for gas at a certain tariff.
The gas conflict began in the mid-2000s, when V. Yushchenko was in power in Ukraine. Despite the fact that gas was supplied to Ukraine at a lower price (compared to European consumers), Yushchenko said that the cost of gas provided by Russia is intentionally overstated, and Ukraine cannot pay so much for "blue fuel". From time to time, a truce ensued in the conflict (the longest was from 2006 to 2010).
At the moment, the gas conflict has received a new round of development in connection with the tense political situation in Ukraine. About a month and a half ago, Russian President V.V. Putin gave the Ukrainian government a period (1 month) so that it would pay off gas debt. It should be noted that today Ukraine owes Russia about 2.5 billion dollars. If Ukraine does not pay the debt, then Russia will have to go to court to collect debts for gas.
Why Ukraine does not want to pay for gas
Kiev explains the unwillingness to pay the debt for Russian gas by the fact that prices per 1000 cubic meters are too high. If earlier Russia provided gas discounts for Ukraine, now the cost of a cubic meter has risen above the average market price (with a discount, the price of 1000 cubic meters of gas was $ 268.5, now the price has risen to $ 485). It is this fact that outrages the Ukrainian government. Despite the fact that Ukraine has a huge debt on gas, it also requires the return of discounts on fuel. Such a position of the Ukrainian authorities outrages Gazprom.
The low cost of 1, 000 cubic meters of gas was due to an agreement with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. Due to the fact that now completely different people have come to power in Ukraine, the discount has been canceled.
Possible options for the development of the gas conflict
Today, experts have two versions of the development of the gas conflict. First, Ukraine will be able to pay the debt of Russia. The second - Ukraine will abandon debts, bring the case to court, lose it and will pay a long time debt for the supply and acquisition of gas. In fact, it turns out that Ukraine intends to “hold out” to the second version of the development of the conflict. At the moment, no action is being taken by the interim government of Ukraine in terms of paying debts. That is why the inhabitants of Ukraine will have to prepare for the worst.
