Naftogaz: Ukraine, Russia fail to agree on 2009 gas supply deal

Source: Xinhua | 01-11-2009 08:52

KIEV, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and Russia failed to agree on a 2009 gas supply deal in the latest round of bilateral talks, Oleh Dubyna, chief executive of Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz, said late Saturday.

"Unfortunately the talks with Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom have finished with nothing," Dubyna told reporters at Kiev airport upon his return from Moscow. "The talks now have to proceed at a higher level."

Dubyna said Gazprom had again demanded a price of 450 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, which he said Ukraine could not accept. Naftogaz has previously insisted on a price of 201 dollars, up from 179.50 dollars in 2008.

Russia, which cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on New Year's Day because of the dispute over pricing and debts, has repeatedly said Ukraine must pay the going market rate for gas.

Editor:Xiong