A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Dr Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

• Gazprom and the EU: Stockholm Arbitration Institute completes oral hearing in Gazprom-Lithuania case; Polish state-owned PGNiG gains controlling stake in EuroPolGaz, operator of the Yamal-Europe pipeline in Poland, leaving Gazprom with minority stake; Greek Energy minister announces €2bn pipe dream project with Russia
• Nord Stream: Gazprom courts BASF and ENGIE (formerly GDF Suez) for Nord Stream II
• Turkish Stream: the Turkish government grants permission for Gazprom to conduct engineering surveys in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, but Gazprom and Botaş yet to reach agreement on gas price discount; Russia and Greece sign Memorandum on extension to Turkish Stream in Greece
• Ukraine: Naftogaz maintains suspension of gas imports from Russia; Gazprom softens its tone on gas transit via Ukraine after 2019; Gazprom remains locked in transit contracts with Slovakia and Bulgaria, regardless of its transit contract with Naftogaz
• Belarus: Gazprom to invest $2-2.5bn in Belarusian gas infrastructure by 2020; Gas transit via Belarus reached 11.1 bcm in Q1 2015 – exactly the same as in Q1 2014
• Asia: Gazprom turns to South Korean expertise for floating LNG terminal in Kaliningrad, and continues to promote its planned Baltic LNG terminal as a source of small-scale deliveries to Kaliningrad
• Other: Turkmenistan Oil and Gas Ministry criticises Gazprom for accruing debts for Turkmen gas in 2015; Gazprom’s gas production in H1 2015 falls 13 percent year-on-year

• August 5, 2015

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with officials from allies Iran and Russia that are expected to focus on efforts to end the civil war in his country.

• August 4, 2015

Few parts of the world will remain unscathed by the plunging stock markets and economic slowdown rocking China, but the companies of Europe's soft underbelly may weather it best.

• August 3, 2015

French finance minister Michel Sapin has criticized his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble for suggesting that Greece could temporarily leave the euro zone, but said the Franco-German relationship is "not broken".

• August 3, 2015

Iran's nuclear deal should bring stability and "good neighborliness" rather than interference, Gulf Arab states told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday as they began talks on the merits of its historic accord with world powers.

• August 3, 2015

China's military warned on Saturday on its founding anniversary of growing risks along its borders, including in the disputed waters of the South and East China Seas.

• August 1, 2015

Kurdish militia fighting Islamic State in Syria accused Turkey on Saturday of targeting it at least four times in the past week, calling the attacks provocative and hostile.

• August 1, 2015

Iran's parliament does not have authority over the nuclear agreement signed with world powers last month, the Islamic Republic's top nuclear negotiator was quoted as saying on Saturday.

• August 1, 2015