© RIA Novosti/Alexander MaksimenkoUkrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk at a meeting of the government.
"Can Ukraine now survive without Russian gas? No, it can't. How much Russian gas do we need to buy? About 5 billion cubic meters," he said in an interview with Ukrainian TV channels.
He said that three-party gas talks, involving Ukraine, Russia and the European Union, are scheduled to take place next month.
"I hope there will be some final stage to these talks," he said.
He added that Kiev had reserved $3.1 billion for gas purchases in the National Bank of Ukraine.
On June 16, Russian gas giant Gazprom introduced a prepayment system for gas deliveries to Ukraine amid a dispute with Kiev over its $4.5 billion gas debt. The European Commission and Gazprom anticipate problems in winter, when Kiev is likely to run out of its own gas reserves.
The Russian compromise was a $100 discount to the contract price, bringing it down to $385, as well as a phased debt repayment scheme. Ukraine declined the offer, dissatisfied with the discount mechanism.Current Ukraine's gas debt is estimated to be more than $5 billion.
Comment: How is it that Ukraine feels it can "decline" a break from a country it already owes more than Ukraine is worth for gas it has already consumed? If Ukraine is expecting help from either the EU or the US, whose bidding it does, it might possibly be in for a shock. Psychopaths have no trouble double-crossing an ally when that ally becomes a liability. Honor among thieves is a myth in the world of psychopaths.
It also puts Putin in a delicate situation. If he acts as a good capitalist, and refuses to deliver any more product until what is owing is paid, he will be labeled heartless. But neither can Ukraine be allowed to skip on the debt. Then he will be labeled weak. How Putin handles the situation bears watching.
Earlier, Ukrainian national oil and gas company Naftogaz suggested to European companies purchasing Russian gas on the border between Russia and Ukraine. The European Commission said it would require a renegotiation of the transit contracts and a trilateral meeting between the European Commission, Russia and Ukraine.
On August 11, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed the possibility of resuming gas talks between Ukraine, Russia and the European Union with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Reader Comments
From the article:
He added that Kiev had reserved $3.1 billion for gas purchases in the National Bank of Ukraine.
What National Bank of the Ukraine, it's my understanding that the bank has been plundered by anyone and everyone who wants a slice of the pie in Ukraine. Surely he must mean the US, and EU and any other psychopath who wants to get in on the action.
As to the gas supplies, that must mean all the gas that was siphoned
off before Russia put it's foot down and said no more. No pay no gas.
This is just a drop in the ocean for the real need of gas supplies that the Ukraine will need for a cold hard winter to heat and feed the population.
Reminds me of that saying attributed to Marie Antoinette "Let the eat Cake" well in the Ukraine maybe it will go "Let them Eat Snow" because there will be scarce resources left when the winter sets in thanks to the psychopaths in charge. One thing you can be sure of they will never suffer.
Ukraine is not being very callous to Russia, accusing them of a myriad of sins against thier country. Why they expect to cut a sweet deal after spitting that much venom is mind-boggling. In fact, the EU as a whole is being rude and crude towards Russia. They are in the same boat when winter comes rolling around, and are threatening even more sanctions. Will they cut thier noses off to spite thier faces?