Germany urges compromise on Ukraine gas dispute
The German government today urged Russia and Ukraine to compromise quickly in order to resolve their dispute over natural gas deliveries.
Still, officials said there was no reason yet to fear shortages in Germany after Moscow moved on Sunday to cut off supplies to Ukraine in a row over pricing.
“The German government has an emphatic interest that, in the interest of securing gas supplies to Germany and West Europe, the talks end as quickly as possible with a compromise acceptable to both sides,” spokesman Thomas Steg said.
Steg said German officials were in contact with both Moscow and Kiev but added that the European Union would take the lead in prodding Russia and Ukraine toward a deal.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the matter with her Austria counterpart Wolfgang Schuessel in Vienna on Sunday, while Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke by telephone with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana early Monday, officials said.
Steg said it was impossible for Berlin to determine who was to blame for the row, citing the complexity of agreements between the two former Soviet republics. He said Berlin expected both sides to honour their contractual obligations toward Germany.
“The trouble-free supply of gas is a significant element in Germany’s relations with both countries,” Steg said.
The Economy Ministry said gas importers have assured officials that they can compensate for any reduction in gas deliveries via pipelines crossing Ukraine.
German industry can draw on stocks holding up to 75 days worth of gas as well as imports from other countries such as Norway and the Netherlands, ministry spokeswoman Sabine Maass said.
