Merkel calls on Ukrainian MPs not to temp people with free gas

10:15, 02.11.2018 1 min read

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on members of the Ukrainian parliament not to temp people with a possibility of receiving energy free of charge via the subsidy mechanism.

She said that she has a request regarding the price of energy, which is a controversial and thorny issue. Even if there are different opinions regarding the energy prices, no impression should be given that the population thinks that gas or oil can be received at a zero tariff, Merkel said at a meeting with Chairman of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy and heads of the parliamentary factions in Kyiv on Thursday.

The Chancellor said that Germany was on a difficult path of shifting away from general subsidies to ensure that the subsidies were personal for vulnerable citizens.

"If everyone gets subsidies, even those who can afford [to pay for energy themselves], here you can't talk about success," Merkel said.