Ukraine and Russia will sign long-term contracts regarding the gas industry in October-November, Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Minister Yury Prodan said in Kiev Tuesday according to RBC. The contracts are to be drafted by September, according to Prodan. The Minister confirmed that a preliminary agreement on a gradual increase in gas prices for Ukraine had been reached in Moscow during talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations headed respectively by Prime Ministers Vladimir Putin and Yulia Timoshenko on Saturday. Gas transit prices will also be raised gradually, Prodan said.
Speaking of Ukraine's gas debt to Russia, he noted that the current payments were made on time. While certain unresolved disputes remain over the debt that arose when RosUkrEnergo and UkrGaz-Energo participated in the gas supply chain, Prodan expressed confidence that the differences would be settled.