Protracted talks between Moscow and Kiev...
Russia has assumed some rather curious long-term obligations making it possible to reinterpret the "gas-for-naval base" agreements. In reality, such agreements are not very romantic.On April 9, Moscow launched construction of the submarine section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, due to link Vyborg in Russia with Greifswald in Germany. Nor does Moscow given on the South Stream gas pipeline to transport Russian natural gas via the Black Sea to Bulgaria and further to Italy and Austria.
The two pipelines will annually pump 118 billion cu. m. of gas. This is more than the 110 billion cu. m. gas-transit volumes via Ukraine stipulated by the contract. Ukraine will soon realize that it will lose its transit country status after both pipelines are completed.
But it is impossible to transport gas to Europe in circumvention of Ukraine while the two pipelines are still under construction. The new contract, which may not imply payments for the Black Sea Fleet, is probably
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