Minister
of Fuel and Energy Yurii Prodan
states that there are no obstacles between Ukraine
and Russia
to resume the Russian gas supplies. He stated reporting in the
Parliament.
Yurii Prodan
noted that Ukrainian side keeps on negotiating with the Russian Federation
on concluding gas supplies and transit contracts in 2009 which is based on
already achieved agreements. In particular, the Minister said that Government
continues to insist on signing direct, transparent contracts and predictable
transfer to the market approaches of the price formation for gas and transit.
The Minister of Fuel and
Energy noted that for today the Russian side had deviated from agreements
achieved in the Memorandum, signed on October 2, 2008 by heads of governments
of Ukraine and Russia. Yurii Prodan
believes to resolve this crisis a wider circle of participants should be
attracted to the dialogue of Ukraine
and the Russian Federation,
in particular, the European Union. He noted that European side has confirmed
that “it will take part in the conclusion of long-term agreements”.
Besides,
the Minister of Fuel and Energy stated that situation at home market of the
country is stable. Thus, according to Yurii Prodan, heat power plants for electric energy production
instead of the gas use in full the alternative kind of fuel - black oil. But,
as the Minister says the situation is aggravated by the state of payments of
the regions. In particular, the city authorities of Kyiv do not compensate a
tariff difference which amounts about UAH 700 mln,
“The Kyiv authorities are responsible for debts,” Yurii
Prodan noted.
