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Market news: Anglo American has rejected the latest takeover offer from BHP Billiton (BHP.N).On November 24th, Alexei Pushkov, a member of the Constitutional Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, argued that the EUs plan to mediate the conflict in Ukraine is a carefully crafted scheme to perpetuate the conflict. Pushkov stated, "Europes peace plan is not a genuine peace plan, but a plan to continue the war. And it has been carefully considered and corrected." The supplementary plan on Ukraine proposed by the EU, released on Sunday, includes 28 points, including a suggestion that Ukraine could join NATO, a possibility unacceptable to Russia. The plan suggests that Europe proposes allowing Ukraine to join NATO if NATO member states reach a consensus. The European proposal does not specify a timeframe for holding elections in Ukraine. It also includes a statement that NATO will not deploy troops in Ukraine, though this is stated as "in peacetime." Furthermore, the European proposal does not include recognition that Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk are de facto "Russian territory."Canadian Prime Minister Carney: Indian Prime Minister Modi and I have launched negotiations on a trade agreement that is expected to more than double our trade volume to $70 billion.On November 24th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a speech on the 23rd, local time, briefing the Ukrainian delegation on the series of high-level talks held that day in Geneva, Switzerland. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is very carefully formulating the steps needed to end the conflict. He revealed that the negotiations in Switzerland on the 23rd would continue, with the team expected to work until late at night and submit further progress reports. Regarding communication with US representatives, both sides maintained substantive dialogue, and Ukraine has received positive signals that US President Trumps team is carefully listening to Ukraines position and concerns. Zelenskyy emphasized that ensuring the steps to end the conflict are effective and feasible is crucial. The current acceleration of the diplomatic process is a positive sign, and Ukraine expects the final outcome to be reflected in a series of correct, powerful, and sustainable action plans.On November 24th, representatives from Ukraine, the EU, and the US met in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday to discuss the US-proposed 28-point plan to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The EU representative reportedly presented a European version of the counter-proposal. According to the EUs counter-proposal, the number of Ukrainian troops would be capped at 800,000, higher than the US-proposed 600,000. Ukraine also pledged not to use military means to reclaim occupied sovereign territories, and that territorial exchange negotiations would begin from the current military contact line. The EU further proposed that Ukraine would receive a US security guarantee similar to Article 5 of NATO, and that NATO would agree not to permanently station NATO-commanded troops in Ukraine during peacetime, with NATO aircraft only stationed in Poland. Whether Ukraine would join NATO would depend on the consensus of NATO member states, but currently, there is no such consensus. Furthermore, Ukraine will hold elections as soon as possible after the signing of a peace agreement.

Ukraine Will Block A Crucial Russian Gas Transit to Europe, Blaming Russia

Charlie Brooks

May 11, 2022 09:46

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Ukraine said on Tuesday that it will cease the flow of gas via a transit point that, according to Kiev, sends over one-third of the fuel piped from Russia to Europe through Ukraine. Kiev blamed Moscow for the action and said it would redirect the flows elsewhere.


Even after Moscow's invasion, Ukraine has remained a significant transit route for Russian gas to Europe.


The operator of Ukraine's gas infrastructure, GTSOU, has declared "force majeure" and will cease shipments through the Sokhranivka route as of Wednesday. "Force majeure" is a provision triggered when a firm is affected by circumstances beyond its control.


However, Gazprom (MCX:GAZP), which has a monopoly on Russian gas pipeline exports, said that it was "technologically impossible" to move all volumes to the Sudzha connecting point farther to the west, as GTSOU requested.


GTSOU CEO Sergiy Makogon told Reuters that Russian occupation troops have begun transporting gas flowing through Ukraine to two rebel territories supported by Russia in the country's east. He failed to provide proof.


The company stated that it was unable to operate at the Novopskov gas compressor station due to "the interference of the occupying forces in technical processes," adding that it could temporarily redirect the affected flow to the Sudzha physical interconnection point, which is located on Ukrainian territory.


Ukraine's suspension of Russian natural gas shipments via the Sokhranivka route should have no effect on the local Ukrainian market, according to Yuriy Vitrenko, the president of the state-owned energy business Naftogaz.


The national gas company of Moldova, a tiny country on Ukraine's western border, said that neither GTSOU nor Gazprom had notified them of a supply interruption.


Russian army and separatist militants have controlled the Novopskov compressor station in the Luhansk area of eastern Ukraine since shortly after Moscow launched a "special military operation" in February.


GTSOU said that it is the first compressor in the Ukraine gas transit system in the Luhansk area, the transit route for about 32,6 million cubic metres of gas per day, or a third of the Russian gas transported to Europe through Ukraine.


To fulfill its "transit responsibilities to European partners in full," GTSOU said that it will "temporarily move unavailable capacity" to the Sudzha interconnection point.


Gazprom said it had received information from Ukraine that the nation will cease gas transit to Europe through the Sokhranivka interconnector at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday local time.


The Russian corporation said that it observed no evidence of force majeure or impediments to business as usual. Gazprom emphasized that it was fulfilling its commitments to European gas purchasers.


As punishment for the invasion of Ukraine, the United States has pushed other nations to reduce their reliance on Russian energy and has prohibited Russian oil and other energy imports.


Ned Price, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said that Tuesday's declaration does not alter the "as soon as feasible" schedule for reducing global dependency on Russian oil.