VOG 2005 New Thread

tin opposes cutting off Ukraine's gas supply - PM Yekhanurov


KIEV (AFX) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yury Yekhanurov said Russian President
Vladimir Putin opposes carrying out Gazprom's threat to cut off Ukraine's gas
supplies from Sunday.
"Mr Putin said the continuity of the supply of gas to Ukrainian consumers
should be guaranteed," Yekhanurov told radio station Era FM.
Yekhanurov added that his country's delegation to bilateral talks designed
to resolve the dispute ahead of the Jan 1 deadline returned home late yesterday.
Earlier reports had said they would remain in Moscow for a further day of
negotiations.
Ukraine currently pays 50 usd per 1,000 cubic metres of Russian gas but
state-controlled Gazprom wants to raise that to 220-230 usd, which is close to
world market levels. Ukraine has offered to pay 75-80 usd.
The Ukraine gas pipeline is a major supply link to western Europe.