Ukraine Likely Not to Sign Gas Winter Package on Wednesday

Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said that it's highly unlikely that Ukraine will sign the trilateral gas winter package on Wednesday between Russia and the European Commission.

KIEV (Sputnik) – Ukraine is unlikely to sign the trilateral gas winter package on Wednesday between Russia and the European Commission, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said.

"I think it’s highly unlikely that this will happen today," Demchyshyn told journalists.

Russia, Ukraine, and the European Commission on September 25 initialed a legally binding protocol in Brussels on the so-called winter package for gas deliveries from October 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016.

The trilateral protocol sets out the conditions for the purchase by Kiev of 2 billion cubic meters of gas for $500 million from Moscow. The entire winter package agreement also includes an addendum to the contract between Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz.

Ukraine ceased buying natural gas from Russia in July, citing its dissatisfaction with the discounted price proposed by Moscow.

Earlier, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a government decision to charge Ukraine $227.35 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas in the upcoming three months instead of $252.