Ukraine - Russia Gas Negotiations to Continue

Discussion on a the terms of a new Winter Package on ensuring gas supplies to Ukraine during the winter season of 2015-2016 will continue next week.

“We have discussed key principles of the new trilateral agreement. I welcome the constructive approach of the Russian side. It helped us to move closer to a consensus on a number of issues”,  Andriy Kobolyev CEO of Ukraine's Naftogaz commented following a meeting with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller in Vienna on Wednesday.

Kiev announced it will soon come up with a clear position on gas talks with Russia.

"I think that by the end of this week the issue [informing on own position] would be settled. The main message is similar to the previous protocol: take-or-pay, the payment for [gas] transit using money… The only new thing is liabilities to accumulate funds and confirm the financial capability of buying gas,” Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn said as written by Interfax. 

The agreement  that regulated terms of supply of Russian gas to Ukraine expired on 30 June 2015.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has targeted gas subsidies which he says are enriching oligarchs.

"The state will no longer subsidize the oligarchs who made billions on gas business and the rich who paid for rates the same sum as people who do not have money. Those who need the state’s help will receive it in the form of subsidies," Yatsenyuk explained in a note, estimating the loss at  $16 billion.