Ukraine to Declare State of Emergency

Despite no alteration in the gas flow to Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia are warming up to the possibility of open-faced confrontations.

Ukraine is trying to push forward a law to increase storages, reduce gas consumption and replace gas with alternative fuels, while moving forward with reverse gas supplies from Europe. 

“Today we must be prepared to any development of the scenario in settlement gas crisis, as it lies not at the economic but at the policy level. A draft law has been designed which stipulates introduction of the state of emergency in energy sector, but it is pending approval by the Parliament that should determine the time and conditions under which the state of emergency will be declared,” Volodymyr Hroysman, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Building, Housing and Communal Services, said on Thursday evening. 

On the other hand, Russia is playing a more complex game. It is also sending clear messages to Western countries, with President Vladimir Putin’s office releasing a note about Russian military production.

“We understand that re-equipment of the army will be complete at some point. The rearmament programme is planned through 2020,” CEO of Rostec State Corporation Sergei Chemezov told Putin on Thursday.  

In the meantime, gas flow from Ukraine remains in normal mode.

‘According to the state at 09:00 (CET), 20. June 2014 related to transmission from East to the European Union, Eustream didn´t record pressure reduction or gas volumes decrease at the Compressor Station Veľké Kapušany on the border with Ukraine,’ reads a note released on Friday by Eustream.