"The funds that Ukraine received today from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which amount to $3.1 billion, could be used as a source of paying off the debt on the [Russian] gas deliveries, and the World Bank and the European Union can act as guarantors for the repayment of this debt," Novak told journalists after the talks.
The European Union proposed that Ukraine pay Russia's Gazprom a total of $3.1 billion by the end of this year. This "winter package" also stipulates that Russia supply Ukraine 5 billion cubic meters of gas at a proposed price of $385 per 1,000 cubic meters for six months.
Commenting on the proposals, Novak said that "The Russian side and the European Union have practically no disagreements on these packages. It can be said that our positions are similar."
However, no final decisions have been made yet. Russia will hold direct talks with Ukraine on the issue of gas supplies next week, where the sides might come to an agreement.
As a result of the ongoing political crisis in the country, Ukraine is currently on the verge of a default. Kiev authorities are trying to rescue the country's economy with international loans, including a $17 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.
Kiev has a significant gas debt that its gas company Naftogaz owes to Russian gas giant Gazprom, which is estimated to stand at over $5.3 billion.
The IMF approved a loan to Ukraine in May in the form of a two-year stabilization program so that the country would be able to clear its debts, carry out economic reforms and recover.
To receive the IMF funds in full, Ukraine agreed to a severe austerity program that includes shedding 24,000 government jobs, raising taxes, selling off state assets and withdrawing subsidies on natural gas.
[en.ria.ru]
26/9/14
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Related:
Ukraine files lawsuit in Stockholm court to contest Russian gas pricing
Η Ουκρανία θα “παγώσει” την Ελλάδα τον χειμώνα. - Για τη "σωτηρία" αξίζει να πληρώσεις κάτι παραπάνω.
Putin urges Europe to do more to help Ukraine, end gas dispute
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The European Union has proposed that Ukraine pay Russia $3.1 billion to cover its debt to Russia's gas giant Gazprom, European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said Friday....
ReplyDelete"We are talking about Ukraine committing to pay all of its open invoices, which amount to $2 billion, with the payments required to be made no later than the end of October. The payments must be made to the account of Russian partners [of Ukraine] and the Commission will get relevant guarantees from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)," Oettinger said following trilateral gas talks in Berlin.
The energy commissioner added that Ukraine will also submit an additional payment of $1.1 billion to its Russian partners before the end of the year. Thus, Gazprom will receive a total of $3.1 billion from Ukraine by the end of 2014.
In June, Moscow introduced a prepayment system of gas deliveries to Ukraine due to Kiev's gas debt, estimated at $5.3 billion....................http://en.ria.ru/world/20140926/193322014/Energy-Commissioner-EU-Offers-Ukraine-to-Pay-Russia-31-Billion.html
26/9/14
EU hopeful of gas deal between Ukraine and Russia...
ReplyDeleteThe EU's energy commissioner is hopeful of a deal between Ukraine and Russia to end their dispute over gas deliveries after three-way talks in Berlin.
Guenther Oettinger outlined a plan which would see Russia supply Ukraine over the winter and into the spring.
Ukraine would pay Russia $2bn (£1.2bn) of its gas debt by the end of October and another $1.1bn by the year's end.
The talks will continue next week. Russia halted supplies in June over Ukraine's unpaid debts...............http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29380637
26/9/14