Back in May Russia and Europe promised Ukraine a loan to buy Russian gas. European banks are ready to shell out $1.7 billion, but Moscow is reluctant to help its neighbour.
Early in the year Ukraine asked Russia for a $4-5 billion loan to buy gas to be put in underground storage facilities ahead of winter. In May Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he was ready to consider giving the loan if the EU put up half of that sum.
"If Europe is interested in crediting Ukraine then Russia will consider contributing to that pool," echoed Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin.
The EBRD and other banks recently agreed to allocate $1.7 billion for Ukraine in 2009-2010. True, most of the money would finance Naftogaz investments in transport and gas reform.
Russia, as it turned out, is not contemplating giving any loans. Moscow is aware of the EU decision and is currently studying it, Mr Sechin told Vedomosti. "But so far we do not believe a credit is necessary," he noted. "Actually we have already given Ukraine a credit in the shape of advance payment for transit." He was referring to Gazprom's payment of nearly $2 billion for gas transit to the EU until February, 2010.
Since then Ukraine has not asked for more money, a government official claims. There were two options on the table to solve the problem: a loan to Ukraine with the participation of Russian banks or without them. Kiev chose the second option, Vedomosti was told.
The government official did not comment on this.
Kiev has a different version. The application for the loan filed early this year is still in force, says Alexander Gudyma, assistant to the Ukrainian Prime Minister: "We are still waiting for an answer."
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko had conveyed to Putin "through certain channels" that she hoped to receive aid, he adds. True, the EU is giving only $300 million for the purchase of gas whereas Ukraine needs $2 billion just to ensure transit, Mr Gudyma notes. Russia could provide a matching loan. However, "it would be more pleasant" if Ukraine got, for example, $500 million, he adds: "If Russia did so in response to the European Union decision, I think Ukraine would be pleased and Mr Putin's reputation would be upheld."
This is not the first time Kiev and Moscow differ on who had promised what: it happens almost every time the gas issue comes up. For example, last autumn Ms Tymoshenko was saying that Naftogaz had record quantities of gas in underground storages and in the event of a falling out with Gazprom nothing terrible would happen, there would be enough fuel to last until spring. But when the gas war broke out Ukraine started to siphon off gas from the transit pipeline and Europe found itself freezing.
The dispute was settled when Gazprom and Naftogaz signed two new ten-year contracts. Ms Tymoshenko promised again that there would be no problems with transit until 2019. However, Naftogaz has already hinted to Gazprom that it would not mind revising the contract, the managers of both companies said. When asked whether a new conflict could break out by the New Year Naftogaz and Gazprom representatives refused to comment.
Yelena Mazneva, Maxim Tovkailo