Kiev’s gas purchases to meet real-time demands will also ensure the reliable transit of Russia’s natural gas to Europe, the Russian energy minister said after initialing a winter package gas delivery protocol.
Novak initialed the protocol, in which Ukraine committed to buying 2 billion cubic meters of Russian gas for storage next month, with his Ukrainian counterpart and the European Commission vice president in charge of the energy union.
It said Brussels will provide at least $500 million by the end of 2015 to assist Ukraine in purchasing the needed gas for the winter period.
Ukraine has not bought natural gas from Russia since July, citing its dissatisfaction with the offered discounted price. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev decreed earlier to charge Ukraine $227.35 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas in the upcoming three months instead of $252.
