Ukraine seeks own oil profit

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence Ukraine can afford buying Russian gas at market prices, underscoring the stance taken by Moscow in the “gas conflict” with Kiev.

The gas talks with Ukraine should not affect the development of interstate relations between the two countries. This situation should not put “our Ukrainian colleagues in a difficult situation, but we should be realistic. The growth rate of the Ukrainian economy is comparable to Russia’s, Kiev received considerable sums from privatization, and loans for its energy sector from western loan institutions; it’s billions of dollars. It’s sufficient to purchase the necessary volume of gas at market prices in Russia,” Putin said at a meeting with the ministers of the economic bloc on Thursday.

News from Russia