Egypt, Saudi Arabia coordinate on regional crises ahead of first Supreme Council meeting    FRA launches first register for tech-based risk assessment firms in non-banking finance    Egypt's Health Ministry, Philips to study local manufacturing of CT scan machines    African World Heritage Fund registers four new sites as Egypt hosts board meetings    Maduro faces New York court as world leaders demand explanation and Trump threatens strikes    Egypt identifies 80 measures to overhaul startup environment and boost investment    Turkish firm Eroglu Moda Tekstil to invest $5.6m in Egypt garment factory    EGX closes in red area on 5 Jan    Gold rises on Monday    Oil falls on Monday    Al-Sisi pledges full support for UN desertification chief in Cairo meeting    Al-Sisi highlights Egypt's sporting readiness during 2026 World Cup trophy tour    Egypt opens Braille-accessible library in Cairo under presidential directive    Abdelatty urges calm in Yemen in high-level calls with Turkey, Pakistan, Gulf states    Madbouly highlights "love and closeness" between Egyptians during Christmas visit    Egypt confirms safety of citizens in Venezuela after US strikes, capture of Maduro    From Niche to National Asset: Inside the Egyptian Golf Federation's Institutional Rebirth    5th-century BC industrial hub, Roman burials discovered in Egypt's West Delta    Egyptian-Italian team uncovers ancient workshops, Roman cemetery in Western Nile Delta    Egypt, Viatris sign MoU to expand presidential mental health initiative    Egypt's PM reviews rollout of second phase of universal health insurance scheme    Egypt sends medical convoy, supplies to Sudan to support healthcare sector    Egypt sends 15th urgent aid convoy to Gaza in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services    Al-Sisi: Egypt seeks binding Nile agreement with Ethiopia    Egyptian-built dam in Tanzania is model for Nile cooperation, says Foreign Minister    Al-Sisi affirms support for Sudan's sovereignty and calls for accountability over conflict crimes    Egypt flags red lines, urges Sudan unity, civilian protection    Egyptian Golf Federation appoints Stuart Clayton as technical director    4th Egyptian Women Summit kicks off with focus on STEM, AI    UNESCO adds Egyptian Koshari to intangible cultural heritage list    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Russia, Ukraine keep silent after gas talks
The two ex-Soviet nations discuss terms of an energy deal, a heated issue that has previously brought disruptions to European gas supplies
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 25 - 09 - 2011

Russia and Ukraine failed to announce any progress after talks on gas supplies and trade between Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Yanukovich late on Saturday.
Ukraine is trying to persuade Russia to change the terms of a gas supply deal between the two ex-Soviet nations, saying that it is paying too much under the current deal. Previous disputes between the two have disrupted gas supplies to Europe.
Russia has said it could only review the deal if Ukraine joined its customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan, a move that would rule out a free trade deal between Ukraine and the European Union that Kiev wants to agree this year.
Yanukovich visited Russia on 24 September, hoping to reach compromise with Medvedev and his powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Yanukovich said before the talks that there were "certain concerns" regarding energy issues which he hoped to resolve.
However, neither his office nor the Kremlin made any announcements on the outcome of the talks after they ended.
A statement on Yanukovich's website simply said the talks were over and Yanukovich was heading home. His office declined to provide any additional information.
Ukraine's economy relies heavily on energy produced from natural gas. In 2009, Kiev agreed to import no less than 33 billion cubic metres of gas per year from Russia at a price linked to world oil and oil product prices.
In the fourth quarter of this year, the bill is expected to approach $400 per thousand cubic metres, a level Kiev says is unreasonably high.
Ukraine can't save by importing less gas either, since the contract has a "take-or-pay" provision, obliging it to stick to the agreed volume of imports.
Its main leverage comes from the fact that Ukraine is also the main transit route for Europe-bound Russian gas, although Russia is trying to diversify exports and has launched the new Nord Stream pipeline bypassing Ukraine.
The current deal was agreed in early 2009, after a bitter price row which halted Gazprom's European supplies for weeks.

Clic here to read the story from its source.