Times of Malta: EU helps Ukraine with Slovak gas link

Slovakia opened a pipeline yesterday able to deliver natural gas from the EU to Ukraine, marking a major step in the bloc’s efforts to aid the country in its escalating dispute with Russia.

Opening up so-called reverse gas flows eastward is part of the EU’s response to Gazprom’s decision to cut supplies to Kiev on June 16 in a row over pricing and in the wake of Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyiuk said the opening of the pipeline that could potentially meet up to 20 per cent of Ukraine’s demand showed his country was united with the EU, which is also worried about a Russian supply cut this winter.

“Ukraine can state today we made this first step together with our Slovak friends and the European Commission to diversify the energy supply and to decrease energy dependence,” Yatseniuk told reporters at a gas pumping station near the Ukraine border.
MORE