DISINFO: Ukraine buys expensive gas from Europe just to spite Russia
SUMMARY
Ukraine wants cheap gas but will buy it at high prices from Europe just to spite [Russia]. To pay 2 or 3 times more, doesn’t matter.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the gas supply negotiations between Ukraine and Russia In November 2015, Kyiv refused to purchase gas for the state’s needs from the Russian monopolist Gazprom. At the moment, all the gas used by Ukraine is acquired exclusively on its western borders. In the summer of this year, Naftogaz of Ukraine reported that at the moment Ukraine is buying gas at an open auction in the EU, at almost half the price that Russia offers. For example, in July, Ukraine bought gas for the needs of the population at $178 per 1000 cubic meters, while Russia's Gazprom offered Kyiv a price of $315. Moreover, the Ukrainian company Naftogaz previously won a court case with Gazprom for gas supplies for state needs. Naftogaz estimates the overall positive effect of the arbitration award at more than tens of billion USD over the entire duration of the contract for gas supplies to Ukraine.