BRUSSELS, June 11 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is ready to sign a document guaranteeing Ukraine a discount of $100 per 1,000 сubic meters this year, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.
The discount may be sealed “in a protocol or an intergovernmental agreement, or it can be Russia’s guarantee of not changing the gas price,” he said.
The Ukrainian side participating in the gas talks in Brussels on Wednesday was not ready for the Russian proposal for gas prices, he added.
“The Ukrainian side was not ready for the proposal declared by our side. The Ukrainian side has a certain time, until Monday,” Novak said.
The European Commission approves the approach that Russia is adopting in order to resolve the dispute over the gas issue with Ukraine, according to the Russian minister.
“The constructive approach of the European Commission must be noted,” Novak said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Gazprom proposed Ukraine to return to the same gas payment scheme that was used during the rule of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
In particular, Russia has offered Ukraine a $100 discount from the contract price and the final price of $385 of per 1,000 cubic meters, he said, adding that the proposed gas price was lower that for some of Ukraine’s neighbors, including Poland.
He said that the new Ukrainian government’s demands for a gas discount were unjustified and ungrounded and by putting forward such demands Kiev was deliberately causing a stalemate in the negotiations.