BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Russia will decide by the end of March on the possibility of a gas price discount for Ukraine in the amount of customs duty, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Friday.
"Russia could consider the possibility of gas discount in the amount of customs duty by the end of march if either Ukraine or the European Commission officially ask for it," Novak told reporters at a joint news conference following trilateral gas talks in Brussels.
Novak added that the discount could cover deliveries in second quarter of 2015, and would be reviewed every subsequent quarter due to price volatility on global markets.
The current gas discount for Ukraine under the so-called 'winter package' is valid until April 1.
Earlier in the day, Novak said the price of the Russian gas for Ukraine in the second quarter of 2015 could be set at $348 per 1,000 cubic meters, not counting the discount.
The current price is $329 per 1,000 cubic meters that is about $100 below the market price.
However, Ukraine still hopes for further reduction in Russian gas price.
Energy Minister also noted that Russia plans to reinstate the take-or-pay clause for gas deliveries to Ukraine starting on April 1.
"The Russian side believes that starting on April 1 the take-or-pay clause will be reinstated, due to the fact that the sides are in arbitration court and take-or-pay clause will be litigated in line with 2009 contract," Novak said.
The Russian energy minister added that despite the return to the take-or-pay clause, Kiev will continue to make prepayments for Russian gas deliveries.
Novak assured European gas buyers these changes will not affect Russian natural gas transits through Ukraine. This East European country is currently the main route for Russian gas deliveries to Europe, which meet about 30 percent of the region's gas demand.
In fall 2014, Russia agreed to refrain from using the contractual take-or-pay provision for the time of the peak winter season under an agreement, dubbed "winter package." The clause stipulates that Kiev either buys Russian gas at an agreed price or pays a penalty.
A prepayment scheme has been in place for Ukraine since June 2014 after Kiev defaulted on its vast debt for previous gas deliveries.
