Gas: Ukraine and Russia sketched solutions to the conflict before winter Moscow and Kiev have drafted Friday tracks and unlock before winter their gas dispute which could have consequences for Europe, while fighting between the army and pro-Russian separatists have claimed another victim in Ukraine. The Russian and Ukrainian ministers found an interim agreement aimed at securing supplies until spring of Ukraine but also from Europe --dont imports of Russian gas transit through Ukraine-- , said the outgoing European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger, after tripartite negotiations (Ukraine / Russia / EU) in Berlin. Yet this agreement seemed uncertain. There is a proposal from the European Commission. But for now, we did not find any acceptable solution, he told AFP the Ukrainian Energy Minister, Iourii Prodane. Under the agreement --or preliminary proposal under the terms of Kiev-- to be approved by both governments and be another meeting in the same configuration next week, Kiev will pay by the end the year of $ 3.1 billion to the Russian supplier Gazprom, arrears on deliveries last spring. Gazprom is also ready to deliver to Ukraine at least 5 billion cubic meters of gas in the coming months, against advance payment, for $ 385 per 1,000 cubic meters, including the Ukrainian reserves to bail and allow to dry countries to properly perform its function of transit to Europe, assured Oettinger. We prepared a plan for the winter that can serve as a basis for solving problems, also said the Russian Minister Alexander Novak. But the sequence of steps did not seem to be a consensus. The Ukrainian side is ready to pay his debt if Gazprom agrees on supplies during the winter, said Iourii Prodane, suggesting a new showdown on a topic that has helped to poison a little more Relations between the two countries in recent months. The conflict, which focuses on gas prices, was brought before an arbitration tribunal in Stockholm but the verdict is only next year, and a short-term solution is imperative as several cities in Ukraine already n have more hot water. In the east, the lull in the fighting consolidates along the frontline in the breakaway Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. A Chtchastie, 20 km from Lugansk, a civilian was killed and 16 though wounded when rebels opened fire Friday in the direction of the city, having as its target the hospital, said Vladislav Seleznev, a spokesman for the regular army. Three Ukrainian soldiers were also wounded near Kamianka in the Donetsk region, in a rebel attack, said the Ukrainian army. The intensity of the fighting, however, remains incommensurate with that they had reached before the cease-fire on September 5. In total, more than 3,200 civilian and military have died in clashes since April, according to the UN. A first meeting near the front line was held during the day in the presence of Russian and Ukrainian military about the implementation of the cease-fire, said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Ukrainian army said the Russian military had planned to go on Friday in Donetsk, the main town in the hands of the separatists, to convince them to observe the cease-fire. If complete truce is then observed for 48 hours, both sides withdraw their troops from the front line, said Kiev. Ukrainian President Poroshenko said Thursday that the worst of the war was over, but Kiev still stumbles over the intransigence of the rebellion, who turns political solutions, including a special status for greater autonomy of its fiefs while remaining within the Ukraine.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 23:04:15 +0000