By Country / Russia
Gazprom Says Ukraine Endangering Europe's Energy Security
December 06, 2005
6 December 2005 -- Russian natural-gas giant Gazprom today accused Ukraine of putting Europe's energy security at risk by refusing to be charged market prices for industrial supplies.
Gazprom in a written statement blamed Ukraine for allegedly blocking negotiations on this issue.
Russia is considering demanding near-European prices for gas supplies to most CIS countries as of next year.
Moscow wants to hike the price it is charging Ukraine to $160 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas from a current $50. In return, it says it is ready to pay the full market transit price for the gas it ships to Western Europe through Ukraine.
In related news, Gazprom Chairman Aleksei Miller told Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko in Moscow today that his company will continue delivering gas next year under conditions agreed upon in 2005.
(gazprom.ru)