Russia Insists On Higher Natural Gas Price For Ukraine
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AHN Staff
Kiev, Ukraine (AHN) - A European Union delegation headed by Czech Industry Minister Martin Riman left for Kiev Monday to check on Russia's cut-off of gas supply to Ukraine. The group is set to sit down by Ukrainian political leaders, representatives of the gas industry and Gazprom.
With Riman are Czech special ambassador for energy Vaclav Batuska and officers from the EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
Simultaneous with the sending of an EU delegation to Kiev on Monday is the emergency meeting in Brussels of EU diplomats to discuss the gas crisis. Russia after closed its tap of gas delivery to Ukraine on Jan. 1 because of Kiev's alleged unpaid bills.
Gazprom insisted on Sunday of increasing cost of gas to Ukraine to $450 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas from $418, according to Alexei Miller, chief executive of Gazprom. In turn, Ukraine said Russia should similarly pay a higher fee to Kiev for hosting Russia's gas pipes which delivers natural gas to other European nations.
In 2008, Ukraine paid Russia only $179.50 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas. Before negotiations between Gazprom and Kiev's Naftogaz bogged down, the Ukrainian state firm rejected Gazprom's demand for a $250 price for their 2009 contract.
