The Russian Ministry of Energy called the condition for reducing gas prices for Kyiv

Russia is ready to discuss a decrease in gas prices for Ukraine if Kyiv repays existing debts. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Anatoly Yanovsky, Interfax reports .

According to Yanovsky, the transfer of the Ukrainian side to the prepayment of fuel supply from Russia is not the opportunity, but the duty of Gazprom, which is registered in the contract. The official noted that the Russian concern pays the customs duty on gas for foreign supplies with advance.

The deputy minister added that on the afternoon of May 12 in Brussels there will be a working meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Energy, Gazprom, the European Commission and the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy. It is expected that the new round of negotiations regarding gas supplies will be held on May 16.

On May 8, the head of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Yuri Prodan, said that the Ukrainian side refuses to recognize Gazprom a duty for gas, as it is designed at a “economically unreasonable” price. Prior to this, the Russian concern indicated that the total amount of Kyiv’s debt increased to $ 3.5 billion after Ukraine did not pay for fuel in April.

Russia plans to transfer Ukraine to an advance gas supply scheme since June of this year. The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation under the European Union Vladimir Chizhov also did not exclude the suspension of fuel supply to Kiev due to the accumulated debt. According to the Russian side, since March Naftogaz of Ukraine has not received a single payment for fuel.

The purchase price of gas for Ukraine from April 1 increased to $ 485 per thousand cubic meters, while during the first quarter of 2014 it was $ 286.5. A sharp increase in the cost of supplies occurred after the abolition of previously provided benefits and discounts for the residence of the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.