Poroshenko: Ukraine Must Import Electricity Without Intermediaries

MOSCOW, December 28 (Sputnik) — The import of electricity to Ukraine should be carried out by state-owned companies without any intermediaries, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Sunday.

“There should be no intermediaries in the provision of electricity import,” Poroshenko told reporters, noting that this should only be carried out by state-owned enterprises.

The president also stressed that “continued rolling blackouts are unacceptable, especially ahead of the holidays.”

Ukraine has in recent weeks been forced to introduce nation-wide energy saving measures as the country is experiencing energy shortages due to the Kiev-led military operation in Donbas, home to most of Ukraine’s coal mines, as well as a six-month halt in Russian gas supplies, which have recently been resumed.

During a Sunday meeting with Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchishin, Poroshenko noted the importance to import electricity.

Earlier on Sunday, Demchishin called on Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak to sign an agreement on the provision of electricity exports to Ukraine at Russia’s domestic prices.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said on Saturday that Russia is ready to supply Ukraine with electricity without prepayments and at Russia’s internal prices, which are lower than the price on Ukraine’s internal market. Kozak also stated that Russia would provide Ukraine with a monthly 500,000 tons of coal.