Dubyna is expected to sign a 2009 gas contract with Alexei Miller, CEO of Russian energy giant Gazprom, in Moscow later Monday in the presence of the two countries' premiers.
"The Ukrainian delegation led by Oleh Dubyna, chairman of the Naftogaz board, has been given instructions and the power under Ukrainian law to hold talks and sign contracts," Bohdan Sokolovskiy was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian president's press service.
The prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine agreed Sunday in Moscow on a 2009 gas price for Ukraine and gas transit tariffs. The deal would see Kiev paying 20% less than the European market price, expected to be around $450 per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter.
Under the agreement, Kiev will not increase the current transit fees it receives for Russian gas. Natural gas supplies to Europe are expected to be resumed after the deal is signed.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called on the European Commission on Monday to push for the legal registration of the agreements with Ukraine, the premier's spokesman said.
Dmitry Peskov said Putin made the request earlier in the day during a telephone conversation with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Ukraine paid $179.5 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas in 2008. Gazprom had insisted on a market price of $450 for 2009.
Russia suspended supplies to Ukraine on January 1 after the former Soviet neighbors failed to agree on debt and prices for 2009. A week later, Gazprom cut off gas supplies to the European Union, saying Ukraine was stealing gas intended for EU consumers, an accusation Kiev denied.
Following mediation by the EU, the two sides signed a deal a week ago to resume supplies, but deliveries did not restart, with each side blaming the other for the lack of progress. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. The EU has called the cut in supplies "completely unacceptable."
