Ukraine’s Naftogaz, which faces Gazprom in gas transit talks in Brussels next week, calls the ruling “a pleasant surprise.”

Ukraine’s Naftogaz, which faces Gazprom in gas transit talks in Brussels next week, calls the ruling “a pleasant surprise.” Yuriy Vitrenko, executive director of Naftogaz, writes on Facebook: “I hope that all this is a sign of a gradual change in Europe’s attitude to Gazprom and Russia’s use of gas as an instrument of political influence.” The EU participates in the Brussels talks over renewing Russia’s gas transit contract with Ukraine. The 10-year contract expires Jan. 1.