Ukraine sees progress in gas price talks with Russia
KIEV, April 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Ukraine have made progress in talks on revision of the Russian-Ukrainian gas agreement, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Friday.
"There is definitely progress with the gas agreements," Azarov said.
Ukraine has been seeking a revision in the 2009 gas deal with Russia since last spring, saying that the contract's gas price formula is unfair. Russia has tied the price for gas to the international spot price for oil, which has been rising strongly recently due to the instability in the Middle East.
Azarov said that a fair gas price for Ukraine amounted to $200 per 1,000 cubic meters, while Gazprom has said that the company sees no reasons for a revision.
Azarov said he hoped the talks would result in a new deal.
"We would like to revise it completely," Azarov added.
He said that Ukraine was not asking for any discounts or preferences.
"We are seeking a common European approach to the price formulation process," Azarov said.
The contract which contains the formula was signed by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Last year Viktor Yanukovych, her political rival, replaced President Viktor Yushchenko and his government has recently opened a criminal case against Tymoshenko for signing the contract.
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