You're reading: Tigipko: Ukraine not to resort to political compromises in gas talks with Russia

Ukraine can make concessions to Russia in order to achieve a reduction in the price of Russian natural gas only under certain commercial agreements, but not at the expense of compromises in strategic or political issues, Deputy Prime Minister and Social Policy Minister Sergiy Tigipko has said.

“We’re always ready for talks with Russia on gas prices, and we are
ready for any concessions as part of such commercial agreements. But we
cannot talk about compromises in some strategic choices, and we cannot
talk about political compromises,” he said at a press conference as part
of the third Black Sea Economic Forum, which opened at the Livadia
Palace on Thursday.

At the same time, in his opinion, such a pragmatic and business-like
approach, as well as pragmatic agreements between the two countries and
between business entities, is “the best basis for our cooperation.”