Tensions between Slovakia and Ukraine
Naftogaz, Ukraine’s gas utility, has called a tender to select a law firm to help it prepare an arbitration case against Slovakia. It is willing to pay €15m to the law firm. Naftogaz has lost an arbitration case with a gas trader in 2018 that was able to seize its gas in Slovakia last year. Naftogaz sees this as Slovakia violating its rights. Since Ukraine and Russia agreed on gas transit as well as supplies last year, Ukraine is no longer dependent on the reverse flow of gas from Slovakia via a small pipeline. In June, Ukraine unexpectedly stopped the small pipeline until October 1, allegedly for necessary repairs. The small pipeline is also used by gas traders who store gas in Ukraine.
