Ukraine wants to amend gas price formula components - Putin
MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - Ukraine has suggested that the Russian natural gas price formula contain different components than is the case now, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said following negotiations with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Azarov.
With the current gas price formula, "our neighbors receive gas at a price lower than we do," Azarov said.
The Ukrainian premier said he did not ask for "any discounts on gas" for Ukraine, but noted that the current price formula includes a price on gasoil, which makes 0.1% in Ukraine's fuel balance.
Putin replied that the gasoil price changes along with the price for oil and is included in all of Gazprom's European price formulas.
The Russian premier also noted that virtually all European gas buyers pay more than Ukraine. "It is more expensive in Poland, and it is more expensive in Germany, although not by much," he said. "But we have deeper cooperation with our German partners than with Ukraine," he added.
Russia has nothing to do with volatility of oil prices on world markets, on which only 12% are real shipments, and it has nothing to do with the events in Northern Africa, Putin said. "This is how international market trends change for different reasons. And one has to pay," he said.
Putin also insisted that the price for gas itself should not be tied to the price for gas transit, as each of these prices is based on market principles independently. In particular, Russia pays Ukraine a European price for gas transit, which is influenced by market factors, he said.
