Gas issues will not be on the agenda for Ukraine and Russia

There are no gas-related problems in relations between Ukraine and Russia. Therefore, the heads of the Ukrainian and Russian governments will not be discussing this issue during the economic committee meeting in Yalta on 19 November, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said today during a press conference.

"One of our priorities for cooperation with Russia is the energy sector. At this stage, no issues relating to natural gas will be discussed during the economic committee meeting. And there is one simple reason for this - because there are currently no problematic issues in this sector," Yulia Tymoshenko explained.

She stressed that Ukraine and Russia have regulated all gas issues for 10 years ahead, including price setting and all issues regarding transit. "In addition, we have settled all issues regarding payment for gas. For the first time in 18 years, Ukraine has paid for all the gas on time. And we will continue to do so," the Prime Minister added.

"That's why if issues concerning gas are left out because they've all been settled, then we have a strategy for the further development of our relations, including from the point of view of our national interests, and confirming our energy independence and energy self-sufficiency. And that's precisely the direction in which we will conduct our negotiations," Yulia Tymoshenko said regarding the agenda for her meeting tomorrow with Russian colleague Vladimir Putin.