Šefčovič: Kiev promised not to arrest Gazprom’s accounts

Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič did not know about Kiev’s intention to arrest Gazprom’s assets all over the world in case the company does not fulfill the ruling of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, a diplomatic source in Europe familiar with the course of the negotiations between Šefčovič and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has announced.

According to the source, Šefčovič learned from Novak about Ukraine’s plans to arrest Gazprom’s assets and expressed his bewilderment. The European Commissioner ensured the Russian minister that “Ukrainians promised not to do so.” However, the source said that until the end of the holidays the European Commission will not be able to ask Kiev to justify such statements.

According to the source, a meeting of Novak and Šefčovič can be organized as early as in the beginning of next week.

As EADaily reported, on February 28, the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce ruled that Gazprom is to pay $2.56bn for gas-transit contract with Naftogaz of Ukraine. Gazprom disagreed with the verdict and said it would protect its interests using all legal measures. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Kiev would seek arrest of Gazprom’s assets, if the Russian side does not fulfill the court verdict.