Signs are emerging that an agreement could be in sight over the acrimonious dispute about gas prices for imported supplies to Ukraine.
Reports in the region suggest that Ukraine expects to reach agreement shortly in the heated discussions with Gazprom over gas import and transit fees. Ukraine’s deputy economics minister Andriy Berezny told the RIA Novosti news agency: I don’t think any documents will be signed next week, but they will be coordinated.
However Gazprom’s recent pronouncements on the issue have struck a less amicable tone. Gazprom has scrapped its previous offer of $160 per 1,000 cubic meters and raised the price to between $220 and $230 per 1,000 cubic meters – almost four times the amount Ukraine currently pays. Gazprom says this reflects the true market price for the gas.