Evgeny Arbuzov assessed the influence of potential gas agreements on the arbitration case between Naftogaz and Gazprom in Stockholm

Naftogaz of Ukraine NJSC has not imported gas from the Russian Federation for a year. Naftogaz stated, in an open letter of 25 November on its website, that this “is an important milestone for independent Ukraine, as just three years ago gas was a major symbol of Ukraine's political and economic dependence on its northern neighbor.” On the same day, Alexander Novak, minister of energy, and Maroš Šefčovič, vice president of the European Commission, were in Moscow to discuss the possibility Russia supplying 1.5-4 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine. After the meeting, Novak said that the delivery of gas would be possible, after Ukraine makes a prepayment. A tripartite meeting may take place in Brussels in December.

Naftogaz and Gazprom are engaged a dispute on gas prices and the cost of delivery that now is in the Arbitration Institute in Stockholm. It is unlikely that signing an additional agreement, which establishes future legal relations, can affect significantly the outcome of the case currently in arbitration, according to Evgeny Arbuzov, a partner of ART DE LEX.