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: Gazprom submits response to EU antitrust ‘statement of objections’, one week after submitting its own proposals in the hope of an out-of-court settlement; Gazprom and Wintershall complete their asset swap; Gazprom and OMV sign preliminary agreement on asset-swap
• Nord Stream: OMV Gazprom signs shareholder agreement with Wintershall, E.ON, ENGIE, OMV and Shell for Nord Stream II
• Turkish Stream: Gazprom proposes reduction of Turkish Stream project to two lines with 32 bcm capacity, with negotiations on hold until after Turkish elections on 1st of November
• Ukraine: Uncertainty reigns for Gazprom and Naftogaz as winter approaches
• Asia: Gazprom continues to promote the expansion of the Sakhalin-II LNG export terminal; US sanctions against the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas field – clarification; The significance of US sanctions against the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas field; Power of Siberia Eastern Route: back to square one?; Gazprom hopes to sign deal on ‘Western Route’ of Power of Siberia in 2016
• Other: Gazprom Export holds its first auction for gas exports, marking the beginning of ‘spot price’ pipeline exports

• October 1, 2015

Russia launched air strikes in Syria on Wednesday in the Kremlin's biggest Middle East intervention in decades, but Moscow's assertion that it had hit Islamic State was immediately disputed by the United States and rebels on the ground.

• September 30, 2015

France challenged Russia to back its words with deeds over fighting Islamic State militants in Syria as major powers on Tuesday struggled to resolve differences between Moscow and the West over ending the civil war in the Middle Eastern country.

• September 30, 2015

World trade will grow by 2.8 percent this year and could be pegged back further by a U.S. interest rate rise, China's economic slowdown or Europe's refugee crisis, the World Trade Organization said on Wednesday.

• September 30, 2015

The United States and Russia agree on "some fundamental principles" for Syria, the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday, adding that he plans to meet again with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday.

• September 29, 2015

Russia and the United States agreed on Monday to look for a diplomatic end to the Syrian civil war but clashed over the central question of whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should retain power.

• September 29, 2015

China will prioritize its energy and financial cooperation with Iran, as the recent nuclear deal means there is now even more opportunity to work together, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

• September 29, 2015

Issue # 74
09/28/2015
The president says Ukraine needs systemic reforms to counteract Russia's aggression.
An indefinite campaign to block cargo transport bringing goods to Crimea is under way on Ukraine's administrative border with the peninsula. READ MORE

• September 28, 2015