Tymoshenko blames RosUkrEnergo, Ukrainian officials for gas talks failure in late 2008
KYIV. Jan 21 (Interfax) - The talks on gas supplies between Kyiv and Moscow failed at the end of 2008 through the fault of gas intermediary RosUkrEnergo and a number of high-ranking officials in Ukraine, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told a Cabinet session on Wednesday.
"It has been confirmed, including at the level of Gazprom's (RTS: GAZP) senior management, that the negotiations were disrupted exactly because of company RosUkrEnergo, and because of politicians and high-ranking officials in Ukraine," Tymoshenko said.
When Ukraine and Gazprom discussed the gas price of $250 per 1,000 cubic meters, RosUkrEnergo offered the Russian gas giant $280 per 1,000 cubic meters, the Ukrainian prime minister said, dismissing the intermediary's move as "destructive".
"What I want to say is that Ukraine's corruption at the highest political level effectively ruined the December 30-31 talks with the participation of RosUkrEnergo. It all led to an unpleasant scandal, which reached the European Union," Tymoshenko said.