Gazprom to Maintain Strong Ties with EU After Meeting in Brussels

Russia’s Gazprom and European officials confirmed their interest in maintaining the existing business ties.

‘The parties confirmed their interest in maintaining the mutually beneficial relationship built over the decades of successful collaboration,’ reads a note released by the top global gas producer on Wednesday. 

Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee Alexey Miller met European Commissioner for Energy Gunter Oettinger and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister. The note did not specify when the meetings occurred.

‘The meetings addressed a wide range of the bilateral cooperation issues. In particular, it was stressed that Gazprom was not just the major gas supplier to Europe, having proved its outstanding reliability for over forty years, but to date it was the only supplier investing billions in the development of the European gas network,’ explains the note.

On Monday, Gazprom raised prices for Ukraine by 44% after a discount deal expired, adding pressure on Kiev. According to the Russian company, Ukraine is losing its right to pay less given a $1.7 billion debt accumulated in the last 15 months.