Ukraine to repay gas debt to Russia if previous price returned — acting finance minister
"The proposal made today — “you pay and then we will start talking to you” — does not suit us," Oleksandr Shlapak stated
KIEV, May 27. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine “will not pay anything” for gas to Russia, if the countries do not reach an agreement to bring back the previous gas price at $268.5 for 1,000 cubic meters, parliament-appointed acting Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak told reporters before a country’s government meeting on Tuesday.
“We are prepared to pay after they [Russia] confirm the gas price to us for the future. However, the proposal made today — “you pay and then we will start talking to you” — does not suit us,” the interim minister said.
He noted the need to hold gas talks with Russia at which negotiating parties should agree on returning the gas price at $268.5 for 1,000 cubic meters.
“If no agreement is attained, we will not pay anything,” Shlapak noted.