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Poll will be held before signing contract with Ukraine on electricity supplies to Crimea

Vladimir Putin considers it appropriate to conduct a survey before making a final decision on signing or not signing a contract.

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has instructed the authorities of Crimea and Sevastopol to hold an opinion poll among the population before signing a contract for electricity supplies to the peninsula with Ukraine, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Thursday.

"The president has ordered to turn urgently to one of the leading professional agencies to hold an opinion poll among the population of the Crimea and Sevastopol on the following questions.

The first question: do you support the conclusion of a commercial contract with Ukraine for the supply of the electricity to Crimea and Sevastopol, if it is stated that Crimea and Sevastopol are part of Ukraine, or you don’t?" the minister said. He added that this was the wording Ukraine wanted to include in the contract and Russia does not agree with it.

"The second question is: Are you ready to temporary difficulties associated with minor disruptions of energy supply in the next 3-4 months?" the minister said.

According to him, the president considers it appropriate to conduct a survey before making a final decision on signing or not signing a contract.