"After signing all its agreements with Central Asian states, Gazprom plans to sign contracts with Ukraine. This may take until the end of November," the source said, adding that amid sliding global crude oil prices, the Russian gas price in the second quarter of 2009 could fall to $360-$400 per 1,000 cu m.
Gazprom's gas prices for delivery to Europe this October exceeded $500 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Ukraine currently pays $179.5 per 1,000 cu m for gas imported from Russia or via Russian territory. Kiev hopes that the gas price will not exceed $300 in 2009, while the Ukrainian budget for next year is based on a price of $250.
The Ukrainian and Russian prime ministers, Yulia Tymoshenko and Vladimir Putin, agreed last Thursday that the countries would over the next three years switch to a new pricing scheme for Russian gas based on European market prices.
