Naftogaz: Russia’s offer to cut gas supply price by 25% not discount

KIEV, Nov 15 (PRIME) -- Russia’s proposal to cut the price of gas supplies to Ukraine by 20–25% is not a discount, but a “normal price,” Naftogaz Ukrainy Executive Director Yury Vitrenko said on his Facebook page on Friday.

“Gas from Russia should be 20–25% cheaper than gas from Europe, since in direct supplies Gazprom does not pay for its transportation to Europe .... That is, 20–25% is not a discount, this is a normal price, which can also lead to a decrease of Ukraine’s income from transit,” Vitrenko said.

“Moreover, a discount of 20–25%, taking into account the future volumes of gas imports, will not be able to realistically compensate for the refusal from U.S. $3 billion that Gazprom must now pay us by decision of the Stockholm arbitration.”

President Vladimir Putin reiterated late on Thursday that Russia is ready to cut the price of direct supplies to Ukraine by 25% and is ready to work with Ukraine on gas transit and deliveries that would be cheaper than reverse supplies.

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