MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ukraine needs to store up to 20 billion cubic meters of gas by the end of September, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Saturday.
"They need to have up to 18-20 billion cubic meters [of gas] by October 1," Novak told journalists.
The minister added that the final figure would depend on the current volume of gas Ukraine possesses and the level of consumption in summer.
"We hope that they should find money [to buy gas] because it is a matter of pulling through the winter," Novak said.
Earlier in the day, the minister said that Ukraine had asked Russia to extend the discount on gas supplies, which currently stands at $100 for 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas, until the end of the year.
Novak has also called for the trilateral gas talks between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the European Commission, to be held by the end of June, when the current gas discount expires.
