Russia will supply at least 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Ukraine in 2009, energy giant Gazprom said on Tuesday.
Oleh Dubina, head of the Ukrainian national oil and gas company Naftogaz, and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller held talks on Tuesday in Moscow on natural gas supplies to Ukraine and the conclusion of a long-term gas supply contract until 2019.
"Agreements were reached that at least 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be supplied to Ukraine in 2009," Gazprom said in a statement. Ukraine has imported around 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually in the past few years.
Talks between Gazprom and Naftogaz on a long-term natural gas deal could be completed in the near future after "considerable progress" was made on Tuesday, the Russian energy giant`s press service said.
"The parties made considerable progress on a long-term contract for gas deliveries to Ukraine and a deal for gas transit through the country. There is mutual understanding on pricing for 2009 and talks on the issue are expected to be completed in the near future," Gazprom said.
The price of natural gas for Ukraine in 2009 and subsequent years has not yet been agreed. Kiev hopes that the price will be around $250 per 1,000 cubic meters next year. This year, Ukraine has been paying $179.5 per 1,000 cu m.
Dubina said on Monday that he hoped a pricing formula based on the price of natural gas in Europe, earlier mentioned by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, would not be used in the next three-year period of transition to market prices.
RIA Novosti