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

Key points:

• Special report on Ukraine: Naftogaz, Gazprom, debts and prices: the saga continues
• In a bid to limit its dependence on Russian gas, Naftogaz seeks alternative supplies from Europe
• South Stream divides EU as OMV (Austria) breaks ranks to sign deal
• EU continues formulating ‘statement of objections’ in antitrust probe as Gazprom and EU representatives confirm interest in retaining mutually beneficial energy relations
• Russian government seeks talks with EU over energy legislation in possible first step towards WTO arbitration
• Gazprom claims progress in talks with CNPC, expects contract to be signed in May
• Gazprom reports 2013 financial results in accordance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS)
• Gazprom and Turkey consider expansion of Blue Stream from 16 bcm to 19 bc

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 13.05.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 16
05/05/2014
Pro-Russian insurgents have shot down two Ukrainian helicopters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk and hit another one. There are victims. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 07.05.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 15
04/28/2014
In response, Russia starts an army drill on the Ukrainian border. Read more in SEPARATIST ACTS OF PROVOCATION IN SOUTHEASTERN UKRAINE. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 05.05.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 14
04/21/2014
Over the last week, pro-Russian activists in the east of Ukraine continued armed seizures of buildings. In particular, the separatists stormed and seized the city police department in Horlivka (Donetsk Region), with several injured reported. The protesters put up a Russian flag on the building. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 01.05.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 13
04/14/2014
Security Service of Ukraine reports massive detentions of Russian citizens who have arrived to Ukraine to destabilize the situation. Read more in SEPARATIST ACTS OF PROVOCATION IN UKRAINE'S SOUTHEAST. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 28.04.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 12
04/07/2014
The Ukrainian leadership said that the separatist unrest in the East of Ukraine had been paid by Putin and Yanukovych. You can find more details in the section "DOMESTIC POLITICAL". READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 21.04.2014  |  External Relations
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Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 16th- - April 15th 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• The AKP emerges victorious in the country’s municipal elections, capturing nearly 43 percent of all votes.
• Opposition parties fare better than in previous contests, but their split gives the AKP the upper hand at the ballot box.
• His party’s success means that Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan will likely run for the presidency in August’s first ever election by popular vote.
• Erdogan’s government blocks social media sites, referring to critics as “enemies” and further degrading political discourse in the Republic.
• Recordings of high-level military and political meetings continue to leak to the public, and are used by the AKP as justification to push for bans of many social media platforms.
• The presence of hundreds of thousands of mainly Sunni Syrian refugees in southern Turkey continues to concern Turkey’s Alevi communities.
• The situation in Syria remains static, but a large-scale military escalation has the potential to severely destabilize Turkey’s southern provinces.

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 18.04.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 11
03/31/2014
Ukraine pulled Internal Troops staff from Crimea See more detail in sections “SITUATION IN CRIMEA” and “FOREIGN POLICY” READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 14.04.2014  |  External Relations
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Issue # 10
03/24/2014
Ukraine intends to appeal to international courts against Russia's illegal actions in Crimea. You can find more details in the section "SITUATION IN CRIMEA". READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 07.04.2014  |  External Relations
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A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

Key points:

• Special report on Ukraine: A tense month dominated by political relations between Russia and Ukraine, and by commercial relations between Gazprom and Naftogaz, as debts and price negotiations leave Naftogaz in a difficult situation
• EU antimonopoly investigation into Gazprom could be delayed by crisis in EU-Russia relations; Gazprom’s deals in Germany and the UK come under renewed scrutiny in context of current international tensions
• Nord Stream: EU delays resolution of OPAL exemption
• South Stream: Uncertainties remain, despite Gazprom’s optimism and the signing of a contract with Saipem for the laying of South Stream’s offshore section
• Gazprom CEO expects to sign contract with CNPC in May
• Gazprom plans for access to Crimean gas deposits and a doubling of gas production in the region
• A month of milestones, as Gazprom celebrates 50m tonnes of LNG exports from Sakhalin-II and 100 bcm of gas exports via Blue Stream

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 03.04.2014  |  External Relations
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