Ukrainian Energy Ministry Says Russia Made No Acceptable Proposals on Gas at Talks

KIEV, September 30  – The Ukrainian Energy Ministry said Tuesday it had received no “acceptable proposals” from Russia during last week's gas talks with Moscow and the European Commission.

During the three-party talks in Berlin last Friday, Russia and the European Commission voiced their support for the “Winter Plan,” a package of measures to be in place until late March and intended to reduce risks for transit of Europe-bound Russian gas via Ukraine.

Russia Ready to Implement 'Winter Gas Plan,' Waiting for Kiev's Response (Alexander Novak, Energy Minister)

ATYRAU (Kazakhstan), September 30  – Russia is ready to implement the “winter plan” of delivering natural gas to Ukraine and is waiting for Kiev’s reaction, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday.

“It all depends on Ukraine. I believe that from our side we are practically ready to do everything that we agreed on in regard to this packet. We’ll wait for a reaction from Ukraine in the next few days when everything becomes clear,” Novak told journalists.

The “winter gas packet” is due to be sent to the Russian government for approval soon.

EU, World Bank Could Act as Guarantors for Ukraine Gas Debt Payments (Alexander Novak, Russian EM)

BERLIN, September 26 (RIA Novosti) – The European Union and the World Bank could act as guarantors for the debt payments that Ukraine would be submitting to Russia under the plan proposed at the trilateral gas talks in Berlin Friday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.

"The funds that Ukraine received today from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which amount to $3.1 billion, could be used as a source of paying off the debt on the [Russian] gas deliveries, and the World Bank and the European Union can act as guarantors for the repayment of this debt," Novak told journalists after the talks.