Ukraine seeking to sign gas supply contract with Russia shortly, says premier

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Ukraine has signed a protocol on the admission of experts to the country's gas transportation system in the presence of Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in the same form as Russia did. Therefore, the talks about the need to review or resign the document have no legal grounds, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told journalists in Yevpatoriya, Crimea, on Monday. "Ukraine has signed it [the protocol] in the wording that was previously drafted, and there is nothing to change there," she said.

Tymoshenko said that in the early hours on January 11, Ukraine signed two documents in the presence of the Czech prime minister, in particular, a trilateral protocol earlier signed by European Commission and Russian officials, and a declaration released by the Ukrainian government. "These two documents were not initially connected," she said.

"Ukraine behaves with dignity in the gas conflict [with Russia]. We will remain a predictable partner for the European Union and other countries," Tymoshenko said.

At the same time, she said that the Ukrainian government would make every effort to sign a gas supply contract with Russia soon. "We will seek to sign contracts under normal conditions for Ukraine. We will seek a mutual understanding with the Russian Federation, because otherwise, it will be very difficult to live with our neighbors. We will see and find key points of cooperation, rather than seek what separates us," Tymoshenko said.

The premier said she was totally against any form of rent or privatization of Ukraine's gas transportation system. "This is state dignity that should remain in state ownership," she said, adding that Ukraine can benefit from its gas transportation system using a proper approach.

Tymoshenko said that due to the absence of a gas supply agreement, Ukraine would continue using Russian process gas needed for transit from Russia to Europe. "Ukraine will fail to ensure the transit without receiving 21 million cubic meters of gas a day. Thus, we will use Russian gas and we will pay for it after we get the gas transit fee," she said.

Tymoshenko noted that Ukraine annually uses 6.5 billion cubic meters of process gas for the transit of Russian gas to Europe. "Ukraine always pay for this gas after it gets the transit fee from Russia," she said.

UKRINFORM