I/III. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/18/us-ukraine-crisis-gas-idUSKCN0I70Q820141018
Ukraine says it agrees on interim gas price with Russia KIEV Sat Oct 18, 2014 5:17pm EDT 1 of 2. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko as he arrives for a meeting on the sidelines of a Europe-Asia summit (ASEM) in Milan October 17, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Daniel Dal Zennaro/Pool (Reuters) - ***Ukraine's and Russia's leaders have reached a preliminary agreement on a price for gas supplies this winter but Kiev may need international help to pay, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Saturday*** [emphasis added]. Poroshenko met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Milan on Friday to discuss the conflict in Ukraine's eastern regions, where pro-Russian separatists are fighting Kiev government forces. Russia cut off gas supply to Ukraine in mid-June following more than two years of dispute on the price. Russia said Ukraine had to pay off large debts for previously-supplied gas before it would resume supply. "(We) reached an agreement," Poroshenko said in an interview with Ukrainian TV channels. "Until March 31 we will fix the price at $385." An agreement signed in 2009 by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko called on Ukraine to pay $485 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian gas. Kiev is contesting the contract in a Stockholm arbitration court. Poroshenko said that state-run energy company Naftogaz was short of funds to pay for Russian gas partly because of debts created by consumers in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, controlled by pro-Russian separatists. "We must solve the question of how we cover the deficit of funds for Naftogaz for gas purchases," Poroshenko said. "We have several different options (including) the International Monetary Fund." He said a mission of the IMF is due to arrive in Kiev in mid-November to discuss amendments to the current loan program for Ukraine. Poroshenko said the next round of gas talks was likely to take place on Oct. 21 in Brussels. (Writing by Pavel Polityuk; editing by Andrew Roche) II/III. http://rt.com/business/196856-russia-ukraine-gas-crisis/ Putin says gas deal with Ukraine for winter months only, Poroshenko says no deal at all Published time: October 17, 2014 13:19 Edited time: October 17, 2014 17:04 Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) stands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko (R) as Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi stands on the back during a meeting on the sidelines of a Europe-Asia summit (ASEM) in Milan October 17, 2014 (Reuters / Daniel Dal Zennaro) ***Kiev and Moscow have failed to resolve their gas supplies dispute, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said after meeting Russia's leader. According to Putin, only an agreement for winter supplies has been reached, but details are still to be worked out.*** [Emphasis added.] "We agreed on the basic parameters of the gas contract," Poroshenko told reporters in Milan where leaders from Europe and Asia gathered for the ASEM Summit. According to the Ukrainian president, the Ukrainian side is looking for sources of funding to pay off the arrears. The optimistic statement came after Poroshenko met with Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak and the head of Gazprom Aleksey Miller. But emerging from a meeting Russia's President Vladimir Putin later in the day, the Ukrainian leader said that no agreement had been reached. New talks have been scheduled for October 21; the EU is once again set to mediate the process. "We have failed to reach any practical results," Poroshenko told reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Putin. He noted that "some progress" in the dispute but said that details are yet to be worked out. No more credit-based gas to Ukraine - Russia Vladimir Putin, on his behalf, stated the two countries agreed on terms of gas supplies "at least for the winter period". "The current issue is cash deficit in Ukraine," Putin said, calling on Western partners to help Kiev overcome the crisis. Russia is not ready to supply gas to its eastern neighbor without pre-payment. He said that Kiev still owes Moscow some $5.5 billion, but is ready to reconsider this sum and a provide a discount of $100 per one thousand cubic meters. This will reduce the debt to $4.5 billion. At the last round of gas talks held in Berlin along with EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger, it was agreed that Ukraine would start paying back Gazprom $2billion of its $5.3 million debt, and Russia would turn back on supplies. So far no further detail has been provided, but trilateral talks between Russia, the EU, and Ukraine will again be held on October 21 in Brussels. The gas price and payment schedule have been key stumbling blocks in the dispute. Russia offered $385 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, less than the $400 average for European clients, but Kiev argues the price is too high, and wants to set it at $285 per 1,000 cubic meters. READ MORE: Putin: If Ukraine siphons gas from pipeline, Russia will reduce Europe supplies Europe counts on Russian natural gas to meet about one third of its energy needs, and 50 percent of the gas travels through Ukraine. If Moscow cuts off deliveries via Ukraine, 15 percent of Europe's gas will be at risk. Moscow will supply enough gas to Europe this winter, but says Ukraine remains a wildcard. If Kiev siphons off gas intended for European customers, Moscow will be forced to reduce gas supplies. Winter warning Russia turned off the gas to Europe via Ukraine in 2006 and in 2009, over similar pricing disputes with Kiev. A prolonged supply disruption would have a substantial impact on the EU, the European Commission warned on Thursday. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic import 100 percent of their natural gas from Russia and would be affected most by a cut in supply, as they would be without at least 60 percent of the gas they need keep the heat on. "This means that even private households could be left out in the cold. If countries work together, instead of adopting purely national measures, then fewer consumers will be cut off from the gas," the EU statement said. Ukraine has already been preparing for shortages in central heating, with some stocking up on dirtier energy sources like wood and coal, just in case they have to survive the winter without gas. III. http://rt.com/news/196920-putin-ukraine-crisis-milan/ Putin: Ukraine's new Donbass law 'not perfect, but a step in right direction' Published time: October 17, 2014 17:51 Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends the closing ceremony of the Europe-Asia summit (ASEM) in Milan October 17, 2014. (Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo) The new law giving special status to troubled regions in eastern Ukraine is 'not perfect,' but might be used to finally stabilize the situation in the area, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart in Milan. "Perhaps it's not a perfect document, but it's a step in the right direction, and we hope it will be used in complete resolution of security problems," Putin said after closed-door talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday. The two presidents met in Milan privately on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), a summit of Asian and European leaders. The document on special status for the Donetsk and Lugansk regions was signed by Poroshenko on Thursday. The legislation "defines temporary order of local government in certain districts," according to the Ukrainian president's official website. The special order enacts governance "in the cities, towns and villages" to be "carried out by territorial communities through local government bodies under the Constitution and the Laws of Ukraine," with local elections scheduled in the districts for December 7. It also aims to restore the regions' infrastructure and "create conditions" to stabilize the situation in the area. The new law, which will be valid for three years from the date of its publication, is part of the agreement reached between Kiev authorities and eastern Ukrainian militias in Minsk on September 5. The Minsk protocol, which also includes decisions on a ceasefire and the exchange of war prisoners, should be the guideline in Ukraine's conflict management, Putin said. "I'd like to point out that these agreements, unfortunately, are not fully implemented by either side," added the Russian leader, speaking to journalists after the Milan talks. Italy, France, Germany, and Russia have expressed willingness to use drones to monitor the situation in the region, Putin said. He added that the technical side of the plan will be discussed in the near future, when specialists gather at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe) headquarters in Vienna. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
