Russia–Ukraine gas dispute

Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom signed a new 15-year natural gas supply deal with Hungary in a move sharply criticized by Ukraine, the company announced on Sept. 27.

The price of gas in Europe approached 0 per 1,000 cubic meters on Monday, according to the ICE exchange.

Thus, the price of the October futures on the TTF hub in the Netherlands on Monday reached 7 per 1,000 cubic meters, or 59.585 euro per MWh.

At the end of last week, the price of gas in Europe exceeded 0, and then 0 per 1,000 cubic meters.

MESEBERG, Germany (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Iran and a gas pipeline project that has drawn U.S. ire during tough talks outside Berlin that ended with no clearcut progress.

The Ukrainian authorities have started the seizure of assets belonging to the Russian gas giant Gazprom, citing its alleged non-compliance with the decision of the Stockholm arbitration court.

After Russia's state gas company Gazprom on March 1 said it was terminating existing gas contracts with Ukraine, the dispute has again raised concerns about Serbia's energy dependence on the Kremlin.

Europe will soon experience a gas shortage and price spike if it tries to rely on U.S. gas imports to cover rising demand instead of increasing purchases from Russia, Kremlin energy giant Gazprom told Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe is in question.

In a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin has expressed concern in relation to the fact that the Ukrainian side is deviating from coordinating agreements for the purchase of gas from Russia this winter season, reported the Kremlin.

Bulgaria said on Wednesday that supplies of Russian natural gas to the country and the volumes for transit to its neighbours are flowing normally - several hours after Russia said it has stopped supplying gas to Ukraine.

Bulgaria, which is almost entirely dependent on Russia for its gas imports, receives them via a transit pipeline crossing Ukraine and Romania.

Ukraine has paid in advance USD 15 M to Russia for natural gas purchases that will meet  its needs for five days, Gazprom has said.

Last month Ukraine's Naftogaz pre-paid to Russia's Gazprom for supplies that would run out on Friday.

Moscow and Kiev are due to attend a three-way meeting on gas issues in Brussels, the EU Commission has said.

Trilateral gas talks Russia-Ukraine-Commission confirmed. @MarosSefcovic meets with RU & UA Energy Ministers in Brussels on Monday 2 March.

? Anna-Kaisa Itkonen (@AK_Itkonen) February 26, 2015