Ukraine’s Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said on Wednesday he hoped to end the talks on reconsideration of the Russian gas export price within seven days.
“I am confident that within the upcoming week we will agree with the Russian side and include the price into the budget that will allow to restore productive competitiveness,” he told a Cabinet meeting.
Vice Premier Sergei Tigipko added that a draft budget for 2010 includes the previous gas price of 334 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. He noted that in case of changing this price, certain amendments would be made.
In the first quarter of the year Ukraine bought gas at the price of 305 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, while in the second quarter this price increased to 330 U.S. dollars.