WARSAW, April 14. /ITAR-TASS/. EU countries are drafting a joint response to the letter of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the Ukrainian gas debt. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated this while visiting the 32nd base of tactical aviation in Lask.
“The EU will preserve unity in relations with the Russians,” he said, adding that a joint answer would be prepared to the Russian leaders’ message addressed to 18 European leaders.
“It is important to us that the EU acts as a united force, and we are satisfied to receive information that all the European partners support a joint response, but not bilateral negotiations,” Tusk said.
{article_photo:727287:'President Vladimir Putin's letter to leaders of European countries. Full text':'right':'50'}The message of Putin’s letter
April 10, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin due to a critical situation in Ukraine has sent a letter to 18 European leaders, whose countries are buying Russian natural gas. In his message, the Russian president has extensively explained the aspects of Kiev’s indebtedness for supplies of Russian gas.
Gazprom does not bring and does not intend to bring any additional conditions as compared with those stipulated by the 2009 contract. This also refers to the contract price for the gas, which is calculated strictly in compliance with the negotiated formula. However, Russia should not and cannot be the only supporter of Ukrainian economy any further, providing it with natural gas discounts and waiving debts, in fact paying with its subsidies the deficit in the trade of Ukraine and EU countries, the message says.
Political demands to Russia
Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, in his turn, informed about three main requirements to Russia regarding the situation in Ukraine and threatened Moscow with economic sanctions.