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Gazprom Head Warns of 'Restrictions' If EU Sells Gas Back to Ukraine

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in May. D. Abramov / Vedomosti

Gazprom head Alexei Miller said Friday that the state-owned gas giant could retaliate against European countries if they were to sell its gas back to Ukraine through large-scale reverse gas flows.

"There is no physical reverse flow," Miller told journalists at a briefing, ITAR Tass reported. "But if we detect a reverse flow on gas-measuring stations in Europe, we may impose restrictions," Miller said.

Moscow cut off supplies to? Kiev in mid-June after Ukraine failed to? meet a? deadline to? pay a? $1.95 billion gas debt, despite extensive negotiations leading up to? the deadline.

In? late April, Ukraine and? Slovakia signed a? reverse flow agreement that would make use of? an old, unused pipeline to? begin exporting 2 billion cubic meters, or bcm, to? Kiev in? October.

Ukrainian energy officials have since proposed a plan to the? EU Commission that would allow Ukraine to? increase reverse flows via Slovakia to? 30 bcm, Kommersant reported.

According to a UralSib report published Thursday, Gazprom would lose nearly $3 billion in 2016 if the EU accepted the proposal.

See also:

Gazprom to Lose $3 Billion if EU Sells Gas Back to Ukraine

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