BAKU, June 18 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday Kiev showed no negotiating culture as it held talks on gas issues with Moscow, and only issued ultimatums.
“Ukrainian representatives conducted talks on gas issues only in an ultimatum form, without showing any negotiating culture and they did it in an absolutely non-European way. This is the behavior of those who believe they are unique,” Lavrov said after talks with his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadjarov.
Starting Monday, the Russian gas giant was forced to enact a prepayment system for gas deliveries to Ukraine after talks on the new price and debt payment mediated by EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger failed.
The European Commission has called for a continuation to the talks on resolving the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine and expressed hope that the sides will reach a compromise this summer.
The decision, according to Gazprom, will not affect Russian gas deliveries to Europe. Both Gazprom and the European Commission see a risk that the problems may continue into the winter, after Ukraine consumes the gas in its underground storage units.
