New Europe: Ukraine rules out gas crisis but not ready for political compromise

YALTA - Kyiv does not expect a gas crisis that would disrupt Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine this winter but, at the same time, it is not ready to make concessions to Russia in order to achieve a reduction in the gas price at the expense of compromises in strategic or political issues, Ukraine’s top government officials said in Yalta on Oct.4.

Asked by New Europe if he foresees another gas crisis, Ukraine’s First Vice Prime Minister Valeriy Khoroshkovsky told a press conference at the Livadia Palace that the EU should not worry. “I believe that in the nearest future, in the nearest winter, there will be no crisis because we work within the frameworks of the agreement that has been signed. I see no problems for the EU first of all because of some troubles that may exist between Ukraine and Russia. I’m sure this winter will be okay,” he told the press conference on 4 October in Yalta, Crimea, following the official opening of the Third Black Sea Economic Forum.

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