Moscow Times: Ukraine Promises Gas to Flow
In the run-up to a fresh round of gas price negotiations, Ukraine promised Friday that there would be no resumption of an energy war with Russia, despite an escalating public spat between and Kiev's Naftogaz.
Repeated failure to reach an agreement on a new price formula for gas contracts has prompted fears of a new standoff. The Kremlin shut off gas supplies in the dead of winter three years ago, hitting Central European consumers. Ukraine claims it has been forced to pay $12 billion to $15 billion in excess charges as spot prices have fallen since the 2009 deal with Moscow.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Friday that questions about a new gas conflict were absurd. "I don't even intend to talk about this during my lifetime," he said, Interfax reported. "Why should we go to war with our Russian brothers?" MORE