Russia-Ukraine
gas talks fail: EU
Negotiations
between Russia and Ukraine aimed at ending a dispute over gas
payments have broken off without any resolution, says a European
Union official.
31
May, 2014
After
the conclusion of negotiations between the energy ministers in
Germany on Friday, European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther
Oettinger told reporters that the two sides have reached no final
agreement but that further progress was made. A final agreement on
the issue is expected to be reached by June 3.
“This
was a step forward but there was no breakthrough today. That could be
achieved on Monday,” he said.
Ukraine’s
Energy Minister Yuri Prodan told reporters that Kiev had made a
payment worth $786 million to Russian gas giant Gazprom on Friday for
Russian gas delivered between March and February.
Russian
Energy Minister Alexander Novak said the talks would continue on
Monday only if Gazprom actually receives the payment.
“Since
the end of February not a single cent has been paid for gas supplied.
That is the situation,” he said.
Russia’s
Gazprom threatened Kiev last week to cut natural gas supplies if
Ukraine fails to pay part of over $3.5-billion debt it has before
June 3.
Gazprom
CEO Alexei Miller said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin that the company would reduce gas supplies if Kiev fails to
pre-pay for next month’s supplies.
According
to reports, Gazprom increased gas price by 80 percent starting from
May. Ukraine’s authorities did not accept the new price and
demanded a discount before they can pay their debts.
Russia
provides about half of Ukraine’s and 30 percent of Europe’s total
gas demand with major pipelines on the Ukrainian territory.
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