"[The date] is undefined," Prodan, who held a bilateral meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger earlier on Thursday, said.
On Wednesday, Prodan said that the trilateral gas talks in the European Union-Russia-Ukraine format were likely to be held on Friday.
Later in the day, the Russian energy ministry's press service said the talks would not be held this week and that the date of the trilateral gas meeting would be determined next week.
Kiev is not happy with the winter package for Russia's natural gas deliveries to Ukraine, endorsed by Russia and the European Commission during the ministerial gas meeting in Berlin last Friday.
According to the plan, Ukraine would have to repay $3.1 billion of its gas debt to Russia and pay in advance for the delivery of five billion cubic meters of gas at a price of $385 per 1,000 cubic meters, with a discount of $100.
Kiev, however, rejects Russia's offer of the discount in the form of an export-duty exemption and wants the contract price to be reduced instead.
Ukraine also wants to agree the debt repayment schedule, as well as terms and schedules of future gas deliveries and insists on amending the current gas contract with Russia in order to formally authorize reverse deliveries of Russian gas to Ukraine from Europe.
(RIA Novosti)
2/10/14
--
-
Related:
Date for Russia-Ukraine-EU gas talks to be set after October 7 — Russian energy minister...
ReplyDeleteThe date of the next tripartite meeting on the Ukrainian gas problem will be determined after October 7, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told TASS on Friday.
“At present, in compliance with the agreements reached in Berlin on September 26, the protocol is being coordinated. The date of the next meeting will be determined after October 7,” he said.
Earlier, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuri Prodan said Ukraine was ready to hold talks with Russia to resolve the gas pricing dispute.
Asked whether the Ukrainian side was interested in holding another trilateral gas meeting with Russia and the European Union, the minister said: “We are ready to meet even tomorrow. We should hold talks and search for compromise solutions.”
The European Commission said on Wednesday it was still working on setting a date for further talks with Ukraine and Russia to tackle the dispute over Kiev's unpaid gas bill.............http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/752722
3/10/14