BRUSSELS. March 20 (Interfax) - There is a serious danger of reduction of Russian natural gas supplies and a higher price for them, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yury Prodan said at a press conference following a meeting with European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger in Brussels on Wednesday.
"There is a serious risk of limited gas supplies to Ukraine and a higher price for gas. Therefore, reverse gas supplies is a very serious matter for us. We have decided to set up a working group that would work at the European commissioner's secretariat starting next week," Prodan said.
Asked about the current price for gas Ukraine is buying from Russia, Prodan said, "Starting April 1, it will be based on a formula stipulated by the contract, which is $378-$380 per 1,000 cubic meters."
"But there is a risk that we might not be granted the $100 [discount] that we are entitled to based on the agreement on the Russian Black Sea Fleet's presence in Ukraine," he said.
The price for gas "should be market-based but not politically motivated, as is the case now," he said.
"Gazprom's gas price is politically motivated," he said.
Talking about the possibility of Europe's financial assistance to settle Ukraine's debts with Gazprom, Prodan vowed that the use of this assistance "will be in compliance with the terms and conditions stipulated."
"We are talking with the IMF and will carry out reforms that would balance Naftogaz Ukrainy financially," he added.
In commenting on a possible price for gas from Europe, Prodan said "gas suppliers are offering a price on the transparent European market, which could be market-based and could vary from $370 to $400."
"But everything depends on how we formulate this price," he said.