@ARTICLE{Ruszel_Mariusz_Natural_2019, author={Ruszel, Mariusz}, volume={vol. 22}, number={No 2}, journal={Polityka Energetyczna - Energy Policy Journal}, pages={33-46}, howpublished={online}, year={2019}, publisher={Instytut Gospodarki Surowcami Mineralnymi i Energią PAN}, abstract={The natural gas supply is used from Russia Federation as a political instrument in the geopolitical and territorial conflict with Ukraine. The effectiveness of Russian strategy towards Ukraine is due to the fact that power in Kiev is also exercised by the pro-Russian politicians and supported on the part of Ukrainian oligarchs. The two countries are interdependent in terms of energy by means of the existing gas infrastructure and long-term contracts, because Ukraine guarantees the Russian Federation the transit of natural gas to Europe through its system of transmission gas pipelines, and Russia pays for the transit and used to supply the agreed amount of gas to Ukraine. For the first time – in 2016 – Ukraine didn’t import natural gas directly from the Russia Federation. This article attempts to obtain an answer to the research question, whether Ukraine actually strives to diversify its natural gas supply. What part of this policy is the Ukrainian political instrument in terms of Russia, and what part is the real political objective? Especially in the context of the gas contract between both States, ending in 2019. What role will be played the underground gas storage in the geopolitical struggle? Despite Nord Stream II the Russian Federation still needs the Ukrainian pipelines to fulfill contractual obligations in gas supplies to Europe. What are the strategic goals of the energy policy of Ukraine and Russia? The geopolitical as well as geo-economic theories will be applied. Moreover, a factor analysis as well as a decision-making analysis will be used. The political analysis method and the forecasting technique are applied to obtain, not only theoretical, but also practical input.}, type={Article}, title={Natural gas supplies as an instrument of geopolitical conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine}, URL={http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/113194/PDF-MASTER/03-Ruszel.pdf}, keywords={natural gas, pipelines, geopolitics, Ukraine, Russia Federation}, }