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 and European Commission representatives meet in Brussels to discuss the antimonopoly investigation; Gazprom’s proposed auction for gas sales to the Baltic is postponed to early 2016 and other Gazprom-related developments in the Baltic region; Gazprom reaches gas price agreement with Finnish Gasum & sells its 25% stake in the company; Gazprom set to divest 50% stake in Bulgarian Overgas
• Nord Stream: EU member states divided over Nord Stream II; Nord Stream II in the context of EU gas market legislation: An emerging debate
• Turkish Stream: Turkey vows to reduce dependence on Russian gas, searches for alternatives
• Ukraine: Gazprom & Naftogaz CEOs meet in Moscow as the two sides debate prices & volumes; Gazprom suggests that transit of Russian gas via Ukraine will continue after 2019; The question of Ukraine’s debt to Russia remains; Ukraine receives shipment of South African coal as Russia and Eastern Ukraine resume coal supplies to Ukraine
• Belarus: Belarus expects gas price reduction of $10 per mcm in Q1 2016, talks remain ongoing
• Asia: Gazprom and CNPC sign agreement on design and construction of cross-border section of ‘Power of Siberia’ pipeline and plan for construction of gas-fired power plants in China; Gazprom to propose ‘third route’ to China by July 2016; Gazprom may purchase gas from other suppliers to meet its Chinese commitments
• Other: Oil prices continue to fall as Brent Crude reaches lowest price since 2004, hitting Gazprom’s oil-indexed long-term contracts

• December 31, 2015

Kyiv says it will approve a ban on the import of some Russian goods in response to similar actions by Moscow.

• December 30, 2015

The leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine have renewed their support for a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine during phone discussions between them.

• December 30, 2015

The Georgian parliament confirmed former Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili as the country's new prime minister on December 29.

• December 29, 2015

Issue # 87
12/28/2015
Militants capture village close to Mariupol
Trilateral contact group on Donbas meets again in Minsk
Donetsk separatists refuse to exchange prisoners by year-end
Putin appoints new Russian envoy to contact group
Yet another Russian "humanitarian convoy" enters Ukraine's Donbas
Ukrainian court allows Luhansk rebel leader to be tried in absentia READ MORE

• December 28, 2015

Bangladesh's state-run Atomic Energy Commission signed a deal with Russia on Friday to set up two nuclear power plants, each with 1,200 megawatt capacity, an investment totaling $12.65 billion, a government official said.

• December 25, 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an annual bilateral summit expected to focus on defense and energy cooperation.

• December 24, 2015

Syria is ready to enter peace talks in Geneva, the country’s foreign minister has said during an official trip to China.

• December 24, 2015