Putin calls for nullifying legal claims between Gazprom, Naftogaz Ukrainy
BUDAPEST. Oct 30 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy to drop their legal claims relating to the settlement of a debt problem and the signing of gas transit and delivery contracts.
"This absurd should be ditched and all claims nullified on all sides. We are prepared for constructive work, both on gas-pumping through Ukraine and on gas supplies to Ukraine, and [we will do so] with a significant reduction of the price, different from the one that Ukrainian consumers of the Russian gas have today," Putin told a press conference after meeting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday.
"And that this gas is Russian is no doubt. There are no reverse [flows] there. But never mind, this false reverse. The main thing is that there are obvious benefits for Ukraine and for the end consumer: for utilities, for citizens, and for the economy as a whole," Putin said.
After three-way consultations on October 28 Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak suggested "package" settlement of legal disputes between Naftogaz and Gazprom, as well as natural gas supplies and transit.