Russia, Ukraine agree on conditions for resuming gas supplies

On October 30, Russia and Ukraine agreed on basic conditions allowing Moscow to resume gas supplies to Kiev during the winter period (from November 2014 to March 2015).

According to Russian news agency TASS, the above statement was made by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak at a meeting of the Russian Government, after the gas negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union (EU) in Brussels (Belgium) resumed on the afternoon of October 30. Previously, the negotiations, which began on October 29, had to be suspended after 12 hours of tense discussions without reaching a final agreement.

Illustration photo. (Source: EPA)

According to Mr. Novak, the European Commission fully agrees with Moscow's position on resolving the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute. It is expected that the parties will sign an additional agreement to the gas purchase contract between the Russian energy corporation Gazprom and the Ukrainian company Naftogaz, which determines the volume of supply and distribution in a day and night, as well as two agreements related to payment for gas supply and payment of gas debt.

Mr. Novak revealed that the parties have agreed that in the next 2 months, Russia will provide Ukraine with 4 billion cubic meters of gas, which Kiev is ready to pay for and the EU is ready to provide a guarantee for this payment. Regarding the payment of the gas supply debt in November-December 2013 and April-May 2014, according to Mr. Novak, the EU and Ukraine representatives said they are looking for financial resources.

Earlier, Russia asked Ukraine to provide written guarantees on finding financial resources to pay off gas debts as well as prepayment for new gas supplies.

Participating in the negotiations were Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan, European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger, along with leaders of Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz./.

According to VNA