Ukraine takes new tack in gas price dispute with Russia
KIEV. April 25. KAZINFORM Ukraine was seeking other energy sources in a bid to defuse its dispute with Moscow over gas prices, Economic Development and Trade Minister Petro Poroshenko said here Wednesday, Xinhua said.
"I think that the more sources that could ensure supplies of gas from the spot market to Ukraine we have, the easier the negotiation process with our strategic partner Russia will be," Poroshenko said during a Cabinet meeting.
He said searching for alternative gas sources, not reducing the gas price was currently Ukraine's main focus.
Poroshenko said the spot price of gas changed every day with Wednesday's price ranging from 250 U.S. dollars to 350 dollars.
Kiev has been negotiating for more than a year for lower prices for Russian gas, which cost 416 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter and 426 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in the current quarter.
Poroshenko's words echo a statement by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov in mid-March.