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Russia's Novak states ball remains in Ukraine's and EU's court on gas transit deal

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday that there are proposals from European Union partners to continue Russian gas purchases after completion of this year, however that the ball remains in the court of Ukraine and the EU.

Despite the war, Russia continues to deliver gas by pipeline throughout Ukraine to other European nations. But Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated this week that Kyiv will not extend the gas transit contract with Russia after it ends at the end of 2024.

Novak, Russia's point male for energy, said Russia was happy to continue supplying gas after the agreement expires.

We have actually consistently revealed our position that the ball is on the side of, let's say, our buying partners and, appropriately, our associates from Ukraine, through which transit is brought out, Novak informed reporters.

We have gas, we will supply it, he added.

Russian gas deliveries to Europe via Ukraine have actually slowed dramatically given that the start of the war, which prompted the EU to cut its dependence on Russian energy. However nations like Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic continue to get Russian gas.

Asked if buyers in the EU had actually approached Russia about renewing the offer, Novak said: There specify proposals of willingness, however there is no such information about it being translated into legal actions or files.

The EU and Ukraine have actually asked

Azerbaijan

to help with discussions with Russia regarding the gas transit offer, an Azerbaijani presidential advisor informed Reuters in June.

Novak said on Wednesday that there were no conversations on swap handle Azerbaijan for gas transit.

(source: Reuters)