Ukraine receives an offer it can't refuseToday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev met with Energy Minister Alexander Novak to discuss the "winter plan" of gas supply to Ukraine. According to the plan, Ukraine must pay off the $3.1-billion debt that it has accrued towards the Russian gas supplies before Gazprom commences supplying five billion cubic meters of gas at $385 for 1,000 cubic meters, which Ukraine will have to pay for in advance. "Currently, our joint proposal with the European Commission is being considered by the Ukrainian side. We are waiting for an answer," the minister said.VK discussed the possible answer of the Ukrainian side with the deputy director of the Institute for Energy Strategy, Alexei Belogoryev. According to him, Ukraine "most likely, will agree, considering all that its politicians have been saying recently about the gas supplies.""They have no choice," the expert said. "The risks connected to the social problems that would appear if there is no energy and heating in winter and to the closure of many industrial plans are too high and generally go beyond all reasonable economic calculations."Ukrainian political scientist Alexei Poltorakov noted that "Ukraine expected much tougher conditions in the gas question. And these conditions are not so tough as they seem."
Today, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev met with Energy Minister Alexander Novak to discuss the "winter plan" of gas supply to Ukraine. According to the plan, Ukraine must pay off the $3.1-billion debt that it has accrued towards the Russian gas supplies before Gazprom commences supplying five billion cubic meters of gas at $385 for 1,000 cubic meters, which Ukraine will have to pay for in advance.
"Currently, our joint proposal with the European Commission is being considered by the Ukrainian side. We are waiting for an answer," the minister said.
VK discussed the possible answer of the Ukrainian side with the deputy director of the Institute for Energy Strategy, Alexei Belogoryev. According to him, Ukraine "most likely, will agree, considering all that its politicians have been saying recently about the gas supplies."
"They have no choice," the expert said. "The risks connected to the social problems that would appear if there is no energy and heating in winter and to the closure of many industrial plans are too high and generally go beyond all reasonable economic calculations."
Ukrainian political scientist Alexei Poltorakov noted that "Ukraine expected much tougher conditions in the gas question. And these conditions are not so tough as they seem."
