Ukraine's Naftogaz Calls for Talks With Gazprom on New Gas Transit Tariffs

KIEV (Sputnik) — Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz said Thursday it had suggested to hold talks with Russian energy giant Gazprom on Kiev's new rules for establishing gas transit tariffs.

"Naftogaz, as a responsible partner, suggested to Gazprom to hold talks on this matter," the company said in a statement.

In September, Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission initiated a winter package deal for supplies during the peak consumption period between October 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016, ensuring the delivery of 2 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine’s underground storage facilities at discounted prices.

In October, Ukraine's Naftogaz said that the country was completing the purchase of Russian gas from Gazprom, and a decision to continue to import it would depend on price. The following month, Ukraine halted purchases of Russian gas, saying the pricing offered by its European partners was much lower than that offered by Moscow.

In November, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that the price of Russian gas for Kiev in the fourth quarter of 2015 would be between $248 and $252 per 1,000 cubic meters.