Ukraine's PM Defends Russian Gas Deal In Parliament
January 10, 2006
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yekhanurov (file photo) (epa)
Under the agreement reached on 4 January, Ukraine is to buy a mix of Russian and Central Asian gas at a rate of $95 per 1,000 cubic meters, up from $50 at present.
Ukraine's former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, has criticized the deal, saying it is detrimental to Ukraine.
Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov shunned the parliamentary debate. Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk and Oleksiy Ivchenko, the head of the state-run Naftohaz gas concern, were also absent.
(UNIAN/Ukrayinska Pravda/ForUm)