MOSCOW, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Russia said Wednesday the price of its gas to Ukraine would stay the same for the rest of the year.
The decision to keep rates at $95 per 1,000 cubic meters followed a meeting between Gapprom chief Alexei Miller and Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko. They also agreed that the gas supplier, RosUkrEnergo, would stay the same, Russian NTN news reported.
Under their agreement, Russia will supply Ukraine annually with 55 billion cu.m. of natural gas and the price from next year will be based on market principles and cooperation.
There was speculation that the price of Russian gas would increase because Turkmenistan had increased the price of its gas to Russia in September.
Under the deal between Turkmenistan and Gazprom, the price of Turkmen gas was to remain $100 per 1,000 cu. m. till the end of 2009. The volume of gas deliveries for the rest of this year will amount additionally to 12 billion cu.m. From 2007 to 2009, it will be 50 billion cu.m per year.
Ukraine now pays $95 per cu.m. for a mixture of Russian and Turkmen gas under a price compromise worked out earlier this year.
