Ukraine and Russia must
continue negotiations to reach an agreement on gas pricing
before June 16, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther
Oettinger said Wednesday following the apparent collapse of
talks in Brussels.
Guenther has been mediating in the pricing dispute that
began following Russia's annexation of Crimea in March.
Earlier Ukrainian Energy Minisyer Yuri Prodan said Kiev had
failed to reach an agreement with Moscow on grounds that it
"rejected the discount mechanism because it is a political
mechanism and not one based on the market".
Kiev currently pays around 485 dollars per 1,000 cubic
metres of gas and is asking for Moscow to lower the price to
268.5 dollars.
For its part, Russia has offered a discount of 100 dollars.
Ukraine would now seek international arbitration in the
dispute, the minister said.
The EU commissioner said he would do everying possible to
facilitate an agreement but warned that both countries needed to
seek a compromise.
On April 1 Russian energy giant Gazprom cancelled a
discount on gas deliveries awarded to ousted Ukrainian president
Viktor Ianukovich last December allegedly on grounds of unpaid
debt, before subsequently setting controversial new conditions
for payment amid threats that it would cut off supplies.
Before the apparent collapse of talks Wednesday Gazprom
announced that it would extend until Monday the deadline for
Ukraine to pay off part of its debt or face having to pay for
its supplies up front.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
