Updated 01:41 a.m. Moscow time.
MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - The temporary 'winter plan' for gas deliveries to Ukraine from Russia can be signed next week, if the payment issue is resolved, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller stated Wednesday.
"Without doubt, if the response is received on the source of financing for Ukraine for the period ahead, the next week you can expect the signing of the winter plan," Miller said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
Gazprom head also added that Russia is not considering the option of appearance of a European intermediary company that would buy gas at the border of Russia and Ukraine. "The issue of whether the gas would be purchased for Ukraine by some European company on the border between Russia and Ukraine was not under consideration."
He concluded by saying that options of making advance payments for Russia's gas transit to Europe via Ukraine are not considered as "it is actually... about crediting of Naftogaz of Ukraine by Gazprom."
Earlier on Tuesday, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said that two temporary gas agreements were expected to be signed during the next round of trilateral gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union on October 29.
Russia-Ukraine-EU talks on Ukraine’s gas crisis were held on October 21 in Brussels. Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan, his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak and the EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger participated in the talks. The talks mainly included the issues of temporary gas deliveries to Ukraine from Russia and the repayment of the Ukrainian gas debt.
Gazprom CEO also has mentioned that Gazprom is not going to make advance payments for its gas transit through Ukraine as this would again be crediting of Kiev.
"No, such options [making advance payments for gas transit] are not considered... it is actually... about crediting of Naftogaz of Ukraine by Gazprom," Miller said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
