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Ukraine-Russia gas talks far from being completed - Yanukovich

“There is progress from both sides, but the process of talks is far from being completed,” he said

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

KIEV, November 22 (Itar-Tass) — The negotiations on gas supply and transit between Ukraine and Russia are far from being completed, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said at the talks with his Lithuanian counterpart Dalia Grybauskaite, who is visiting Kiev.

“There is progress from both sides, but the process of talks is far from being completed,” he said.

Yanukovich underlined that the gas issue remains “a significant problem for Ukraine.”

“The gas price affects the country’s economy, social sector and public utility and housing tariffs,” he said.

Last week Yanukovich noted that Ukraine and Russia are close to resolving the gas problem, while Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov did not rule out that Kiev will pay a new price for gas supplied in November.

He forecast that the negotiations on gas price should complete in November.

Ukraine seeks to persuade Russia to reduce the gas price and switch to the signing of short-term gas supply contracts.

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