Ukraine to pay full price for Russian natural gas from April 1

From April 1, Ukraine will have to pay contractual price for buying natural gas from Russia. The discount that Russia had given Ukraine for the first quarter of the current year is expiring, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.

"On March 31, 2016 the gas discount for Ukraine expires. The discount was provided by the Russian government for the first quarter of 2016 at $17.77. The final price of gas for Ukraine in the first quarter was $212 per 1,000 cubic meters. The agreement about the discount was achieved within the framework of the so-called winter package agreed between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union. Starting from 1 April of this year, the price of gas for Ukraine will fully comply with the current contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine," the minister said.

Regular tripartite consultations between Russia, the EU and Ukraine on gas supplies to Ukraine and transit to Europe began in May 2014 after Russia canceled the discount on gas for Ukraine. In the summer of 2014, Gazprom switched to prepaid contracts with Ukraine. In the autumn of 2015, Russia managed to obtain quarterly gas prices for Ukraine for the winter period.

Noteworthy, Ukraine wants Russia's Gazprom to pay the fine of 85 billion hryvnia (over $3 billion) for "monopolism."

Pravda.Ru

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