Putin expects Russian and EU cos to settle gas price issue through friendly dialogue

Vladivostok, Russia - President Vladimir Putin has said that on the matter of natural gas deliveries to Europe Russia will not assume any non-market obligations and expressed confidence that the question of the gas price for EU countries will be settled in a friendly atmosphere. 

"I strongly count on succeeding in finding a way out of this situation without losses for either side through a business-like and friendly dialogue between economic entities, between companies and the European Commission," he said at a press conference following the APEC summit.

Putin said that the gas price formula was worked out over the decades and is recorded in long-term contracts. "Nobody has ever disputed them. Clearly that in conditions of crisis the wish appears to shift part of the financial burden on others, such a temptation arises. But I want to repeat that we consider such an approach unconstructive," he said.

"Russia has never assumed and will not assume any additional obligations related to nonmarket regulation of economies in those countries," he said.

He reminded at the press conference that in Soviet times fuel was delivered to East European countries at nonmarket prices.

"Nowadays we have switched to market relations with these counties and to market pricing. I think we should remain on the grounds of presently reality," Putin said.