The same talks ended with different results for each of the parties. The recent trilateral gas talks between representatives of the European Commission, Ukraine, and Russia again proved that information is interpreted with one’s own bias. Each party made a statement summing up the talk’s outcome. As a result, journalists wonder if the parties actually took part in the same talks. So, Russia’s Energy Ministry mediated by the European Energy Commissioner suggested that Kiev should settle the debt of $3.1 billion until the end of 2014. However, Juriy Prodan, Ukraine’s Energy minister, claimed that “the Russian party already owes $6 billion overpaid for gas. Therefore, the value of $3.1 billion is not considered to be the payment for the deliveries in 2013 and early 2014, but it is actually an advance payment for supplies next winter.” The only figure which coincided in the statements followed the meeting is $3.1 billion. No other common things have been found out.
“We are ready to count this value for estimates and gas payments. As a compromise, we have offered and are ready to make an advance payment speaking about a delivery of 5 billion cubic meters worth $1.9 billion. It is to be settled later this month,” the Ukrainian minister highlighted. Importantly, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk deliberately refused to make any comment on the gas talks between Ukraine, the EU, and Russia held in Berlin. However, he reiterated that “Kiev will not withdraw the lawsuit from the arbitration court in Stockholm.” As for the price matter, Ukraine is ready to agree with the price at $385 per thousand cubic meters as long as it paid in advance for further deliveries. So, the Ukrainian minister added that Ukraine is still insisting on $268 as the fair price for the Russian gas, but agrees with $385 as a temporary price this winter. European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger noted that Russia’s Gazprom is to supply 5 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine in the nearest months on condition that the $2 billion debt is paid off and the advance payment at $385 per thousand cubic meters is made.
