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Ukraine to soon find compromise with Russia on fair gas price: min

“This year we have paid for imported gas more than 70 billion hryvni [8.75 billion dollars] on an enslaving formula,” Azarov noted

KIEV, October 12 (Itar-Tass) — Ukraine will shortly find a compromise with Russia on a fair gas price, Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said at a government session on Wednesday.

“This year we have paid for imported gas more than 70 billion hryvni [8.75 billion dollars] on an enslaving formula,” the prime minister noted. On Tuesday, Azarov said Ukraine expected to work out with Russia an acceptable compromise within two weeks.

“We are currently engaged in talks and expect to find a compromise within the next ten to 15 days,” the prime minister said.

A contract signed in 2009 between Ukraine’s Naftogaz and Russia’s Gazprom set the price, which the current Ukraine’s leadership regards as exorbitant. The contract was the basis of a trial of ex-prime minister Yulia Timoshenko that ended on Tuesday with her being sentenced to seven years for forcing Naftogaz to sign the deal.

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