Year: 2009

News From Russia: January 6th, 2009!

Windows to Russia!RBC, 05.01.2009, Moscow 16:27:38.Some Ukrainian politicians have gone too far inWindows to Russia! their attempts to solve the gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Andrei Isayev, chairman of the State Duma committee on social policy and member of United Russia political party, told journalists on Saturday. He pointed out that the conflict does not merely involve certain companies and countries, but it also involved hundreds of citizens of Russia, including pensioners. Isayev indicated that the money Russia lacked as a result of the conflict had been incorporated in the federal budget, and thus the Russians would be affected.

RBC, 05.01.2009, Moscow 14:36:37.Naftogaz of Ukraine has declined Gazprom’s offer to accept additional 15m cubic meters of gas to be transferred daily through the Kobrin natural gas measuring facility in order to ensure the supply of gas to foreign customers. The Russian energy giant’s press office reported about this decision of Naftogaz of Ukraine today. Gazprom, which suspended natural gas supplies to Ukraine on January 1, has announced that Ukraine was siphoning off gas aimed for European consumers. On January 3, Ukraine has admitted to siphoning off 25m cubic meters of gas for technological purposes. Gazprom views such actions as “direct stealing.” Poland, Hungary, Romania and the Balkan States have already suffered because of Ukraine’s actions. Gazprom is planning to file a lawsuit against Naftogaz of Ukraine and force it to ensure uninterrupted natural gas transit to Europe. Furthermore, the Russian holding still calls upon its Ukrainian partners to resume talks on the matter.

RBC, 05.01.2009, Moscow 14:28:29.A Kiev court has made a ruling prohibiting Russian natural gas transit via Ukraine by Naftogaz of Ukraine at $1.6 per 1,000 cubic meters per 100 km in 2009. A relative decision was made following a lawsuit filed by the Fuel and Energy Ministry of Ukraine seeking to consider the existing gas transit agreements with Russia until 2010 void. As a source in the Fuel and Energy Ministry of Ukraine told RBC, the reason for declaring these agreements void was that they were signed by ex-Deputy CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine Igor Voronin, who didn’t possess of the necessary power of attorney from the Ukrainian cabinet. The investigation into the case was scheduled for January 9, 2009.

RBC, 05.01.2009, Moscow 13:10:15.The latest escalation of military conflict following Israel’s ground assault on the Gaza Strip raises our deepest concerns, Andrei Nesterenko, the official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, made this statement yesterday. “We have to stop the sufferings among civilians from both sides, put an end to bloodshed and ensure mutual cease-fire. One of the most urgent measures to be taken is to avoid large-scale humanitarian catastrophe in the area, lift blockade and open check-points,” he added.

RBC, 04.01.2009, Moscow 16:30:33.Over the past 24 hours Ukraine has illegally siphoned off 50 million cubic meters of Russian gas meant for Europe, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters today.

RBC, 05.01.2009, Moscow 12:10:17.Georgia and the U.S.A had plans to sign a framework strategic partnership agreement on January 4. The document stipulates for the cooperation between the nations in the security, democratic development, economic and humanitarian spheres.

Russia: If There Was A Gas Pipeline Around Ukraine – Ukraine Would Not Be Playing Games!

Hello,
Windows to Russia!
It is real simple: If Russia could bypass Ukraine with gas then Ukraine would toe the line and be a good transit country. But as it is, Ukraine knows that Russia has no other way to get all the gas to Europe and plays games with the pipe transit system.

Russia at this point is being very patient with Ukraine but Ukraine has very short sighted vision. Russia will bypass the Ukraine pipeline before long. Then Ukraine will lose all billions in revenue that Gazprom pays them for being a transit country. Ukraine is a country that is flat busted now and it looks like they will be even more broke in the upcoming years.

My Grandma use to say: “Seems that when people get in a fix that they just dig themselves a deeper hole!” Ukraine is digging a really deep hole right now.

Several European countries have had their deliveries of gas through Ukraine cut off, a situation which the EU describes as “unacceptable”. Gazprom says Ukraine’s energy company has shut off a number of pipelines. (Link)

Russian gas supplies through Ukraine to Turkey have stopped, the Turkish minister of energy and natural resources said on Tuesday.(Link)

Gazprom said it would pump more gas through alternative routes via Belarus and Turkey to ensure European supplies were not affected. (Link)

Seems that Ukraine is unwilling or unable to meet the needs of Europe out of the huge gas reservoir that Gazprom has in Ukraine. Gazprom expects Ukraine to do their job and pump the gas from the storage and send it on to Europe.

We still have no idea if Ukraine has paid any money yet to Gazprom. They say they have but all banks are closed for holidays in Russia and Ukraine. We will not know until the 11th of January. Then if the amount that was paid is really there then that helps but Ukraine still owes almost a billion dollars in penalties and fees…..

Russia has put out the word: They will bypass Ukraine at all costs! Ukraine has lost all trust as a gas transportation country.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

From Russia: The Hound of the Baskervilles! (Soviet era)

Hello,
Windows to Russia!
Tonight we are watching a Sherlock Holmes movie that Svet published in the Video blog. It is called: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Собака Баскервилей).

It is a Soviet made movie with English subtitles and is very good. Svet has published several Sherlock Holmes movies from the same series and they are all excellent.

I like to get Svet talking about the Soviet times because she has lots of fond memories of that era. It seems that everything that I was taught in America was dead set wrong. I realize this when I watch a movies and listen to music from the Soviet era. The Soviet Union was culturally very well developed and this has lasted well into the generations growing up now.

So on this -18 C. night (0 F.) we are going to stay warm and comfy. Drink hot tea, eat Choco Pies and watch The Hound of the Baskervilles!

Come Join Us…..

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

May 2008

What Is Russia Up To This Saturday, January 3rd 2009?

Hello,
Windows to Russia!
I was drinking my second cup of coffee and thinking about what Russia has been doing this week. So to start with Russia has been removing as many Russian and CIS citizens out of the Gaza that she can. So far around 350 have been removed. Israel is getting ready to attack and Russia asked Israel to hold off the attack until she could remove some people before the carnage starts. Update: As of late Saturday Israel has attacked by ground forces Gaza. Sad…….

While Israel is destroying the Gaza: Ukraine is stealing gas from Russia. This is exactly what Russia said they would do. Ukraine has shown that they are now not a trustworthy transit country. Ukraine is taking over $8,000,000 a day in gas. Even though Ukraine says that they have enough to last several months, I think this shows that Ukraine does not have reserves and that theft is the only way for them to have heating gas. Russia has shut the Ukraine gas supply off and only supplies European gas through Ukraine. It is a simple measure to see if Ukraine takes gas. Gazprom knows how much gas goes in to Ukraine and they know how much gas comes out of Ukraine. Romania, Poland and Hungary all reported shortfalls of up to 40% in Russian gas delivered through Ukraine – Ukraine is stealing gas!

So while Ukraine makes themselves look like petty thieves in front of Europe: The FIS world cup alpine ski promotional event has been held in the center of Moscow. A state of the art movable ramp of Guinness book of world record dimensions was erected next to the Moscow State University. This thing is really a portable mountain. (Link)

So while Moscow is playing with ski ramps: The big foreign news in Russia is from America. ( Muslims have been kicked off a airline due to who they are and what they talked about. It was over heard that they were concerned about the safest place to sit on a airplane. It did not help that they are Muslim and dressed traditionally Muslim in appearance, with the men wearing beards and the women in head scarves. According to sources even the FBI was called and it really became a stupid situation. To top it all off all the Muslims are USA citizens.

So while America is making traveling the blue skies an experience you will never forget: The traffic Police in Moscow have their hands full and are working over time. In the first two days of the new Year 63 traffic accidents, resulting in the deaths of nine people and some 80 injured, had been recorded on Moscow roads.

Sad…

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: The Worlds Largest Portable Ski Ramp!


Hello,

Moscow has just set a World record but not in what you would think at a skiing event.

The FIS world cup alpine promotional event has been held in the center of Moscow. A state of the art movable ramp of Guinness book of world record dimensions was erected next to the State University. The Russian capital is the first city in the world to host such a highly rated international event on a practically flat landscape. The organizers managed to gather 14 top skiers to ensure the unique experiment is successful.(Link)

This is one huge ramp and it has been designed to transport all over the world and be used at any city to host a ski event. Problem this year was that Moscow had a shortage of snow for the ramp. It needs 4,000 cubic meters of snow to function, so trucks came from Siberia and made sure that Moscow had the snow it needed.

Cool!

Kyle & Svet

Winter Holidays in Russia are here! (Grab the Bread)

Our Prize: Russian – Georgian Style Lavash Bread! (Yummy)

Hello,Windows to Russia!

Russia is in her Winter holidays. The days off are from the 1st of January to the 11th of January. This is a time when everyone (literally)is off work in Russia. The only places that you might find open are grocery stores and gas stations. This is a tradition that came about after the fall of the Soviet Union and Svet tells me she does not like the tradition. Svet feels that because the weather is so cold and snowing everyday, that to be off now is only conductive to sitting in the house and watching TV. If mandatory off time was in the summer then people could go to their Dachas and enjoy the time off.

I agree with her 75%. I like to walk in the snow so I really do more walking at this time of the year. I am a winter person though.

An example of what happens at this time of the year: Last night we took a walk to go buy groceries. We finally found a store that was open! We really had most groceries that we needed except bread. (Of course, the store had no bread because all bakeries are closed.) We left that store and went to several more, all out of bread. We stopped at a little side store that sold beer and vodka. They had two loaves of bread, that they had baked, for sale. We grabbed those last two loaves and behind us came in at least 10 people looking for bread also. The little store was now was full of people looking for the last bread on the street. I looked at my wife and said: “You know we could name our price and make lots of money off this bread!” Svet and I made it out of the store alive, as everyone was having a fit inside because we got the last two loaves. We did not feel bad because we searched for our loaves of bread and discovered them first.

In fact when we got home and took a bite of that fresh bread it was the best prize we ever had. 🙂

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

News From Russia: January 2nd, 2009!

Windows to Russia!RBC, 01.01.2009, Kiev 19:45:42.At today’s news conference, Oleg Dubina, chairman of Naftogaz of Ukraine, told journalists that the company was planning to import 46bn cubic meters of gas in 2009, with gas transit expected to reach 120bn cubic meters. The gas price of $250 per 1,000 cubic meters proposed by Russia, combined with the gas transit fee maintained at its current mark of $1.7 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas per 100 kilometers, will drive Ukraine’s losses up to $500m, Dubina said. Naftogaz suggested buying gas at $235 per 1,000 cubic meters, and charging $1.8 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas carried for 100 kilometers. According to Dubina, after the proposal was made the talks with Gazprom were suspended rather than ended altogether. He assured journalists that Ukraine did not withdraw from the negotiations, adding that he had been on the phone with Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller this morning. He stated that he was ready to restart talks any time, if Russia adopted a “constructive” stance.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Kiev 19:30:01.Gas talks with Russia should be resumed over the next few days, to be completed by January 7, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a statement today. “I think we are close to a compromise solution, and I would like to ask the Russian president and prime minister, as well as the Ukrainian delegation in the talks with Gazprom, to do everything possible to complete these negotiations as soon as possible,” he emphasized.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 17:52:12.Alexei Gudyma, advisor to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko on fuel and energy matters, believes that Russia and Ukraine are on track to sign a gas deal before the Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7. The deal is to cover all issues, including the Russian gas transit price via Ukraine, the Echo of Moscow radio quoted the advisor as saying.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 17:45:52.Ukraine prevents independent observers from inspecting gas compressor stations on its territory, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov reported. “We can see a barrage of statements from Ukraine that it will ensure the transit of Russian gas to European consumers. This is good news for us, but the question arises: why independent observers, who arrive at the borders of Ukraine’s gas transportation system and are already working at both gas-compressor and gas-holder stations in Russia and Slovakia, are prevented from entering Ukraine’s stations,” Kupriyanov said. An independent auditor, which has enough experience, is currently inspecting the amount of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, with the inspection results to be announced on January 2, according to Kupriyanov.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 16:55:53.Gazprom has signed gas contracts with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan providing for a gas price of more than $301 per 1,000 cubic meters. The gas price, based on an average European gas price level, has been set for the first quarter of 2009, Echo of Moscow quoted official spokesman for Gazprom Sergei Kurpiyanov as saying. He also noted that Gazprom had been supplying the gas from Central Asia to Ukraine. Yesterday, Gazprom’s Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee Alexander Medvedev said that Gazprom had reached deals with all of its suppliers (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan), but the contracts had not yet been signed. He gave no prices at that time.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 15:24:26.Gazprom increased supplies to Belarus by 20m cubic meters of natural gas in a move not related to the lack of a gas deal with Ukraine, the gas giant’s official spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told a news conference. The increase stems from a rise in consumer demand, Kupriyanov stressed.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 14:45:23.Gazprom has cut gas supplies for Ukrainian consumers by 110m cubic meters of gas, while gas export shipments were increased to 326m cubic meters, official spokesman for Gazprom Sergei Kupriyanov told a news conference today. He reiterated that Gazprom and Ukraine still had no gas deal for 2009, suggesting Russia had no legal ground to continue gas supplies. With this in mind, Gazprom halted gas deliveries to Ukraine. Kupriyanov noted that Russia was pumping less gas from its underground storages, while the cut has had no effect on the gas giant’s output.

RBC, 01.01.2009, Moscow 14:30:05.Gazprom is urging Naftogaz of Ukraine to continue talks on the 2009 gas contract, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov reported. He said information about gas price levels acceptable to Ukraine appeared on Wednesday evening, but it was after the Ukrainian delegation left Gazprom.

RBC, 31.12.2008, Moscow 19:30:21.Gazprom has offered Ukraine a preferential gas price for 2009, at $250 per 1,000 cubic meters, but Ukraine rejected it, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev broadcast by Vesti TV Channel. Putin said he had discussed the matter with Ukrainian Prime Minister Julia Timoshenko earlier today. He said Russia was ready for further gas talks with Ukraine.

RBC, 31.12.2008, Moscow 16:58:07.Naftogaz of Ukraine has informed Russian gas giant Gazprom that it could seize Russian gas intended for European consumers, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters today. “If no agreement is reached on the terms of transit transportation, there will be no legal grounds to accept Russian gas into Ukraine’s gas transportation system,” says a letter signed by Naftogaz of Ukraine CEO Oleg Dubina. Such gas could be identified as gas owned by an unknown owner, and seized as such, the document warns.

RBC, 31.12.2008, Moscow 16:30:44.The issue of Ukraine’s debt for Russian gas has been settled without any help from Gazprom, the company’s spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters today. “This means we were right,” he stressed. After denying its Russian gas debt for the past few months, Ukraine yesterday formally recognized that it owes $2 billion for Russian gas, taking steps to settle the debt, according to Kupriyanov. “It turned out that Ukraine has had the money all this time; the issue has been settled without Gazprom’s financial help,” he said, criticizing Ukraine’s actions as the “purposeful delay” of negotiations on the terms of cooperation in 2009. Naftogaz of Ukraine said yesterday it had transferred over $1.522 billion to the bank accounts of RosUkrEnergo. RosUkrEnergo has confirmed that it received the money, adding that Ukraine still owed it more than $600 million. Kupriyanov stressed that Ukraine had to pay its debt in full.

Russia: Ukraine Wants its Tort (cake) and Eat it Too!

Hello,Windows to Russia!

Russia has had to start the New Year by doing something that she did not want to do. Cut the gas supply to Ukraine because of default in payments. Ukraine pressed the situation and played lots of games.

We have a saying in America: “The check is in the mail!” This saying comes about because everyone writes checks in America and mails payments through the postal service to pay bills and then tells the bill collector that “The check is in the mail!”

Ukraine was playing this same game. Ukraine said we sent payment through a mediator company. Ukraine said we paid our bill. The President of Ukraine said the bill is paid. The Prime Minister of Ukraine said the bill is paid. Other words the “Check is in the Mail!”

Russia (Gazprom) said: “You might have paid the bill, but we never got the money!”

So: In America we also like to say, ” The Postal Service has lost the payment!” It looks like the same thing has happened to Ukraine. Some one lost the 2 billion dollar payment. Ouch!

The core of the situation right now is that Ukraine has a huge supply of gas in underground storage facilities. This gas is from Gazprom and this is some of the gas that Ukraine refuses to pay for. For every cubic meter of this stored gas that Ukraine uses they are stealing from Russia. Ukraine is selling this gas to Europe and using this gas for its own uses. Ukraine also no longer has a contract for gas. This means that Gazprom can not legally ship gas to Ukraine. Russia has for years given Ukraine a huge discount on gas price. Russia calls it charity and only expects Ukraine to pay about half the normal cost of gas. The gas that was being shipped to Ukraine costs Russia 340 dollars a 1000 cubic meters. Ukraine got it for 179 dollars a 1000 cubic meters. Europe pays almost 500 dollars per 1000 cubic meters. Russia has now asked Ukraine to pay 250 dollars a 1000 cubic meters as of the 1st of the year 2009. remember this is still costing Russia 340 dollars per 1000 cubic meters……

Ukraine refused

This gas will run out soon and then Ukraine will still owe for all that gas plus fees, fines and penalties…….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Windows to Russia: We Wish You a Happy New Year!

Windows to Russia
From Windows to Russia to All Our readers!

Svet and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
May 2009 have Peace in the World.

Kyle, Svetlana and Boza