Gazprom agrees to voluntary discount, it is ready to sell gas to the Ukraine at cheap price till end of June

The Ukraine has found an unexpected ally in gas negotiations with Russia. Together with the European Commission Gazprom asked the Russian Government about a discount on gas for Kiev, not wanting to escalate the conflict situation. The parties dissent only in the duration of the discount: Brussels counts on the period of six months, and the monopoly - only for three months. Just at this time, the Ukraine should start actively pumping gas into its underground gas storage facilities, counting on a record low price.

On March 27, the European Commission asked the Russian Government to consider the possibility of providing discounts on gas for the Ukraine since April 1, the Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak reported. A similar letter, he said, Naftogaz Ukrainy sent to Gazprom. The monopoly’s head Alexei Miller in an interview with the Russia 24 said that Gaprom itself had already appealed to the Government to offer discounts for Kiev. It is abolishment of the export duty on gas, which is $100 per 1 thousand cubic meters. The discount was used within the "winter package" of gas supplies to the Ukraine since the beginning of November, but today it expires. The Government, the Minister specified, will consider the issue "in the near future". If the discount is agreed upon, the price of gas for the Ukraine will be at one of the lowest levels in Europe - $250 per 1 thousand cubic meters.