KIEV — Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Thursday that Ukraine will buy much less gas from Russia next year and will disregard any “aggressive” statements on the issue, which have led before to rows and supply cuts to Europe.
Under a deal ending a winter gas dispute, Kiev agreed to import 42 billion cubic meters this year and, according to President Viktor Yushchenko’s office, 52 bcm next year.
“This [2010 imports] will be significantly less than in previous years because we have less need for natural gas,” Tymoshenko said. Ukraine imported 49 bcm of gas last year at a cost of $8.6 billion. This year, Tymoshenko has said 30-32 bcm could be imported.
Tymoshenko has suggested before that the country could import next year 25 bcm to 27 bcm — almost half the amount it bought last year. Such a cut would leave a dent in Gazprom’s revenues. Neither Naftogaz nor Gazprom have commented on import figures.
But Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said Ukraine should stick to the January contract for next year.
“Let Ukraine fulfill its contractual obligations. This is what was written in the contract and so it will be,” Miller said last week in Buenos Aires, Interfax reported.
Tymoshenko retorted on Thursday, “I want no reactions to any aggressive statements. Ukraine, despite the crisis, is settling the bills for gas on time.”
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