ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) – Ukraine’s prime minister signaled Oct. 26 that his country would agree to Russia’s participation in its talks with Turkmenistan on long-term natural gas exports.
With some 45 percent of Ukraine’s gas being supplied by the Central Asian nation via Russian pipelines, Ukrainian officials reacted with alarm earlier this month when Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov said Russia should be consulted on a 25-year contract for gas deliveries to Ukraine.
Ukraine, which is trying to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow, fears Russian meddling in gas deals.
“It’s difficult to talk about a 25-year contract today, because such long-term plans should be decided in the context of talks with Russia,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said after talks with Niyazov in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat.
Yekhanurov also said Ukraine would try to pay off before the end of the year more than $450 million (372 million euros) in debts to Turkmenistan for this year’s gas supplies.
Under an earlier agreement between the two ex-Soviet republics, Turkmenistan is to supply Ukraine with 36 billion cubic meters (1.26 trillion cubic feet) of gas in 2005.
The price is $58 (48.30 euros) per 1000 cubic meters (35,000 cubic feet) in the first six months, half of which was supposed to be paid in kind, and $44 (36.64 euros) per 1,000 cubic meters – in cash – starting July 1.
Yekhanurov said Ukraine was ready to heed the Turkmen government’s request to pay cash for the gas, though he did not specify when that would occur.
Yekhanurov’s delegation includes Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov and other officials, lawmakers and business representatives.
