Peskov appreciated Tashkent’s refusal from the “gas union” with Moscow and Astana

The gas union proposed by Russia with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan does not imply an exchange of political demands for gas supplies, it is a matter of commercial interests, Reuters information about Tashkent’s rejection of this initiative is incorrect. This was stated to journalists by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov.

Earlier today, the agency cited the words of the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov, that the republic would never disagree on political terms in exchange for gas, and an agreement with Russia on gas supplies, if it is concluded, does not yet mean an alliance.

“Reuters misinterpreted the words. We know what was said. Nobody talks about gas in exchange for political terms. This is out of the question in the context of the creation of this union. Naturally, we are talking about the commercial side, about coordinating actions in the commercial interests, primarily of the participating countries,” Peskov said.

According to him, work in this direction continues. When asked how the creation of a union differs from technical agreements, Peskov explained that it is primarily about the parties coordinating their actions for the further laying of transport routes, the development of gas infrastructure, as well as meeting their internal needs for natural gas.

“Countries are interested in coordinating all this, increasing both profitability and benefits for each other. Here are the differences,” he added.

On November 28, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev announced the proposal made by Vladimir Putin during negotiations in Moscow to create an alliance between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan “to resolve issues in the gas sector.” On November 29, Tokayev’s spokesman Ruslan Zheldibay specified that the talk was about the creation of a “tripartite gas union” with the aim of “coordinating actions in the transportation of Russian gas through the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.”

Later, the Presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone conversation, during which they discussed issues of trade and economic cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, in turn, said that Uzbekistan is interested in the gas union project with Russia and Kazakhstan, since the republic needs additional gas supplies from the Russian Federation.

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