Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently doing his annual marathon press conference. It's probably safe to assume that we an expect more on Ukraine anon.
Good morning. We'll get the live blog rolling today with a couple of items filed by our news desk overnight:
Fraught Gas Talks Between Russia, Ukraine, EU To Resume In Berlin
The next round of natural-gas transit talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union are set to resume in Berlin on December 19.
The talks aim to reach a new contract before the current 10-year deal between Moscow and Kyiv expires on January 1.
European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic is expected to mediate the talks.
The CEO of Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas firm Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolyev, has said the sides will “likely” fail to sign a new agreement.
If so, the parties can renew talks as early as April 2020, he told Interfax, adding that Ukraine has nearly 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas stored underground, enough to get through a normal winter.
Kyiv is seeking a long-term replacement deal, similar to the existing one, which has earned Naftogaz about $3 billion annually in gas-transit fees.
Naftogaz is demanding a 10-year deal but has suggested it would accept a seven-year deal. Conversely, Russia’s state-run Gazprom has offered a one-year deal and has hinted it could accept a three-year deal.
Complicating matters is Russia having completed 90 percent of the 1,222-kilometer Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which connects to Germany underwater.
Its yearly capacity of 55 bcm would technically give Russia the means to stop transmitting gas across Ukraine.
Somewhat bolstering Ukraine’s negotiating position are U.S. sanctions that were passed this week on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 project.
The restrictive measures target pipe-laying vessels and include asset freezes and the revocation of U.S. visas for the contractors.
Based on reporting by Interfax, Bloomberg, dpa, and Ukraine Business News
And here's another one (courtesy of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service):
Swiss Court Orders Russia To Pay Ukraine Oil Firm $44 Million For Crimea Investments
The Supreme Court of Switzerland has ruled in favor of Ukraine’s state majority-owned Ukrnafta oil production company to recover $44 million in investments from Moscow that were lost as a result of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Ukrnafta said in a news release on December 18 that the judgment came six days earlier and stems from Russia appealing an unfavorable ruling on April 12 by an international arbitration tribunal for the same amount.
In addition, the Swiss Supreme Court ordered Russia to pay 155,000 Swiss francs ($158,000) in court expenses to Ukrnafta, Ukraine’s largest oil-producing company.
“The judgment of the Supreme Court of Switzerland of December 12, 2019, is final and is not subject to appeal. This decision puts an end to the attempts of the Russian Federation to deprive Ukrnafta PJSC of the opportunity to obtain compensation for investments expropriated in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,” the Ukrainian oil company said.
Russia forcibly wrested control of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Ukrnafta is majority owned by state-owned Naftogaz and 42 percent of its shares are owned by a group of companies affiliated with Ukrainian billionaire Ihor Kolomoyskiy.
This ends our live blogging for December 18. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.