Ukraine publishes full text of fresh gas agreement with Russia

The Ukrainian government on Friday published the full text of the agreement inked between Kiev and Moscow on a gas supply package worth 4.6 billion US dollars for the coming winter.

According to the pact which was agreed on Thursday in Brussels, Ukraine will receive gas from Russia starting from November 2014 through the end of March 2015 on the pre-payment basis.

Kiev will pay Moscow its 3.1-billion-dollar gas debt in two tranches by the end of the current year to resume gas deliveries.

Breakthrough: 4,6 billion dollar deal secures gas for Ukraine and EU. (Russia and Ukraine agree gas supply deal)

From the Official Website of the European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 30 October 2014:

"After seven rounds of gas negotiations, last night's talks moderated by Günther H. Oettinger, Vice-President of the European Commission, yielded finally a breakthrough: A 4,6 billion dollar winter package, agreed by Russia and Ukraine, secures gas for Ukraine - and ultimately also for Europe.

Russia’s Position at Trilateral Gas Talks Remains Unchanged (Energy Ministry)

Moscow's position at the ongoing gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union in Brussels remains unchanged, the Energy Ministry said in statement Thursday.

"The position of the Russian side within the framework of the ongoing trilateral gas talks in Brussels between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union remains unchanged," the statement said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Skeptical About Next Round of Gas Talks

Kiev is skeptical about the next round of three-party gas talks scheduled for October 29, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Wednesday.

"We need additional 5 billion of cubic meters that we can buy from Russia. I'm quite skeptical about the possibility of building relations with Russia, but we will see how the situation will develop on [October] 29," he said.

Gas talks: Negotiations to be continued next week. Ukraine would settle its debts based on a preliminary price of $268,5/ 1000m3 (Günther H. Oettinger)

From the Official Website of the European Commission, Statement, Brussels, 21 October 2014:

"At today's gas talks in Brussels, Vice-President Günther H. Oettinger, built on his Berlin proposals and presented ways to secure gas supplies to Europe and the Ukraine during the winter season.

Vice-President Günther H. Oettinger said: "We made another step towards a possible solution and are close to an agreement on important elements. Others still need to be addressed, such as the financial gap."

The following cornerstones are undisputed:

Kiev Has $3.1 Billion to Pay Off Russian Gas Debt (Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukrainian Prime Minister)

The Ukrainian government has accumulated $3.1 billion on its accounts to pay off the debt for gas supplies from Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Sunday.

"We have the funds – the government has accumulated $3.1 billion on [its] accounts," Yatsenyuk told the Ukrainian 1+1 TV channel, discussing funds Ukraine could use to pay for Russian gas deliveries.

Putin Says Europe Should Help Ukraine Finance Russian Gas Deliveries

MILAN, October 17 - Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes that the European Commission will help Ukraine finance the Russian gas supplies to Ukraine.

"We hope that here our European partners, the European Commission may also, and in my opinion, must help Ukraine finance Russian gas supplies," Putin told reporters after the meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Putin urges Europe to do more to help Ukraine, end gas dispute

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged European Union leaders on Thursday to do more to help Ukraine through its economic crisis and said Moscow was ready for consultations with Europe over  Kiev's gas debts.
  
"The Russian Federation is still open to continue consultations and work together with European countries in order to stabilise the situation," Putin said in a declaration to foreign leaders.