• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
 
Special Report
Russia-Ukraine gas dispute
Origins of disputeCompeting supply routsGazprom’s expansion in Europe
January 19, 2009
 
 
Special Report: Russia-Ukraine gas dispute 
Erste Group – Special Report: Ukraine
Page 2
Contents
IntroductionEnergy transportation corridorsa) Oil transportation corridorsb) Planned gas transit routesGazprom’s strategyConclusionsFact book: Gazprom’s expansion in Europe3346789
 
Special Report: Russia-Ukraine gas dispute 
Erste Group – Special Report: Ukraine
Page 3
Introduction
In mid-December 2008, Russia entered into a major dispute with Ukraine, the second since the Orange Revolution.Both sides issued statements and accusations, which only specialists can fully understand. The Ukrainian pipelinenetwork is such that it is impossible for Russia to selectively cut off Ukraine while allowing gas to flow further westto Europe. It is also technically impossible for Russia to stop extracting much less gas than it does. The credibilityand sustainability of gas import prices and transit fee agreements depend on both sides’ ability to negotiate and settransparent rules of cooperation.José Manuel Barroso stated: “If the transit of gas doesn't go as normal, we will have to draw the conclusion that thesupply of gas from Russia through Ukraine is no longer a credible supply.” European consumers do not care who isto blame and see supplies from Russia through Ukraine as wholly unreliable.Even during the worst times of the cold war, Russia (as the face of the former Soviet Union) never ignored itsforeign obligations over energy supplies, but now the situation has changed. Why has Russia entered into a conflictknowing that it will damage its image? We think that Russia does not care much about how it is viewed by theinternational community. Russia has learned how to profit from its “new strong” position in the foreign arena.Let’s look at the politics of the issue from Ukraine’s perspective. We will show how Ukraine, jointly with other post-Soviet countries, is trying to gain influence and create competition for Russia in supplying energy resources toEurope.
Energy transportation corridors
Guam
GUAM is an international organization comprised of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova. Turkey and Latviahave observer status. GUAM was created in 1997 as an alternative for the further development of former Sovietnations. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko stated that GUAM members “don’t see themselves any more aswrecks of the Soviet Union” and are willing to become a locomotive of a “third wave of democratic revolutions” inthe CIS region. GUAM is a democratic alternative of the CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States). GUAM isheavily supported by the United States and Eastern European countries that are seeking independence fromRussia’s monopoly on the supply of oil and gas.
Ukraine has the status of a regional leader of the GUAMproject.GUAM – Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
Source: Wikipedia
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...