"Gazprom" is asked to return to basics.

Kiev does not want temporary response to the gas problems.

"The Kommersant" knows the details of the next round of gas talks between Russia and the Ukraine. Kiev wants from "Gazprom" to review the main points of their contract. But monopoly is ready for it, only if the Ukraine withdraws its claim in the Stockholm arbitration, which, in turn, does not suit Kiev. The fate of the negotiations depends on how strong is the political pressure of the EU on the Ukraine. Six months ago in nearly the same situation even the combined efforts of Moscow and Brussels failed to reach an agreement.

Yesterday Russia and Ukraine had to review the draft agreement on the gas for the next six months, released on Friday in Berlin (see. "the Kommersant" dated September 27) and comment to the Euro commission by evening. Their point is that "Gazprom" is obliged to supply at least 5 billion cubic meters of gas to the Ukraine at the temporary price of $ 385 per thousand cubic meters on a prepaid basis, and Kiev repays $ 3.1 billion debt to the monopoly. Yesterday Alexander Novak stated that Moscow was "almost ready" to execute the agreement and "it all depends on the Ukrainian side". The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy has published three claims: Kiev is not satisfied that the price reduction will be carried out through the abolition of the export tax, and not through changing the contract, as Ukraine insists on changing the terms of gas supplies (including take-or-pay) and transit.