Russia refuses to negotiate with Ukraine until $5 billion gas debt is paid
Moscow - Kyiv, August 04 (Navigator, Mikhail Ryabov) - Russia refused to negotiate with Ukraine regarding the revision of the gas contract until the $5,3 billion debt already owed to Kyiv is repaid.
The Russian newspaper Izvestia reports this.
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“Representatives of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation are not going to meet with the Kyiv authorities until the debt is paid,” the publication says.
“Our proposals remain unchanged: we are ready to compromise on gas prices, provided that Ukraine not only recognizes all its previous debts, but also begins to repay them. Without this there is no point in negotiating. Ukrainians say: lower your prices, otherwise we won’t pay you what we owe. This does not suit us,” said Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU Alexander Krestyanov.
According to him, after repaying the debt, Moscow is ready to reduce the price of gas for Ukraine to $385 per thousand cubic meters by eliminating customs duties, but not revising the formula.
Russia has refused to negotiate with Ukraine until it pays $5 billion in gas debt.