12:47 23.12.2013

Boiko says gas conflict between Ukraine and Russia settled until 2020

2 min read

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boiko has said he hopes that gas disputes between Ukraine and Russia have been resolved until 2020.

"I hope so," he said in an interview with the 1+1 television channel, when asked whether the agreements signed in Moscow mean that the gas conflict with Russia has been settled until the end of the effect of gas contracts.

"We warned our partners that the economy is not withstanding and that we will reduce the purchase of gas," Boiko said.

He said that amendments to the gas contracts concerned only a change of the price, but not the amount of Russian gas purchased by Ukraine. In particular, the take or pay principle was left in the contract. He said that the political situation had prompted the sides to establish dialogue.

"The fact that the political situation was such that it was necessary to meet each other halfway has recently become clear. There was a principled position of our president that we are ready for any model of cooperation with Russia, but on a parity basis – in fraternal terms: if a consortium – then fifty-fifty, if the ownership of the GTS - then fifty-fifty. Unfortunately, we did not get a clear signal from our Russian colleagues that they are ready for such a model. That's why the negotiations were so difficult," he added.

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