KIEV, October 30 (RIA Novosti) — The Ukrainian government approved the trilateral protocol between Ukraine, Russia and the European Union on Thursday on deliveries of Russian gas during the winter period, Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Vadim Ulida said.
"Yes, it was confirmed. Everything the prime minister said remained [in the protocol]," Ulida told reporters.
A trilateral Russia-Ukraine-EU protocol on gas deliveries is being discussed at ongoing talks in Brussels. According to Russia's Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Moscow will sign the winter gas deliveries plan if the European Commission (EC) and Ukraine manage to agree on financial guarantees.
Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced that Kiev is ready to pay Russia $3.1 billion of its massive gas debt by the end of the year. However, Ukraine refuses to withdraw the lawsuit it filed in June against Russian energy giant Gazprom over alleged overpayments.
Yatsenyuk also said that gas prices for Ukraine in the fourth quarter of 2014 will be $378 per 1,000 cubic meters and in the first quarter of 2015 will be set at $365. He added that the gas prices will be based on oil prices.
