Moscow ready to extend gas discount for Ukraine until end of 2015

The Russian government leaves open the possibility of extending the gas discount for Ukraine and will go into the issue until the end of the month, Alexander Novak, Russia's Energy Minister, said on Thursday. The term of the discount is under consideration now. “There are several options: for a quarter or two, till the end of the year. We will have to discuss the issue at the government too,” Novak said.

The minister reaffirmed that a tripartite protocol on the supply of the Russian gas to Ukraine is being drafted for the ministerial meeting that is likely to take place in late June.

As EADaily reported earlier, Novak promised that Russia would not sign a new agreement on delivery of gas to Ukraine for the third quarter, unless it contains the commitments of both Kiev and Brussels. “If it contains only our commitments as it was in Q2, there is no sense to sign the agreement.  All the decisions we adopt on our own,” the minister said.

In late March, Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the idea of extending the gas discount for Ukraine until June 30. The current tariff is only $248. Kiev was granted a discount for $100 after the trilateral negotiations in Brussels in October 2014.