Russia ready to negotiate gas discounts and revise transit fees

The negotiations on the so-called "summer package" of delivery terms, cost and volume of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine from April 1, 2015 will also cover the issue of revising transit fees for gas piped across Ukraine, Minister of Energy and the Coal Industry of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn said on Wednesday.

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"There are several positive signs in the negotiations,” Demchyshyn said.

“The Russian side is ready to negotiate discounts, [and] reconsider transit fees. They are ready to further analyze payment terms, and they are ready to do this under the auspices of the European Commission. That means the negotiations will not be bilateral but trilateral - with the participation of the European Commissioner. Therefore, we will wait for the next meeting and the outcome of negotiations."

The minister did not specify the planned date of the next round of talks, saying only that they will be held "soon."

"There is not much time left until April 1," Demchyshyn added.

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