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Gas contracts with Russia can be changed only through talks – Ukrainian official

The head of the Ukrainian presidential staffn recalled that Ukraine was sustaining 200 dollars of losses per every thousand cubic meters of gas

KIEV, August 31 (Itar-Tass) —— Gas contracts between Ukraine and Russia can be changed only through negotiations, the head of the Ukrainian presidential staff, Sergei Lyovochkin, told the media.

"There are two ways to achieve this. One is negotiating with the counterparts, and we are proceeding down this path. The other is going to court," said Lyovochkin, adding that he hoped the negotiating process would succeed.

He recalled that Ukraine was sustaining 200 dollars of losses per every thousand cubic meters of gas.

"Over ten years the losses may reach 80 billion dollars," he said.

In the first quarter of 2011 the entry price of Russian gas was 264 dollars for one thousand cubic meters, in the second quarter, 293 dollars, in the third, 313 dollars, and in the fourth, 347 dollars, including the 100-dollar discount according to the Kharkov agreements.

The Ukrainian side insists on a revision of the Russian gas pricing formula. It argues that the base rate is above the European one. According to the Ukrainian side, the gas price should drop to 240 dollars per one thousand cubic meters.