Ukraine Digs In but Gas Bargaining Position With Russia Wanes

摘要

Ukrainian lawmakers are drawing battle lines as details emerge from its gas supply negotiations with Russia, but with an ever weakening position Kiev could find it difficult getting its demands met. Alexei Miller, chief executive of Russian state export monopoly Gazprom, told Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that Ukraine wants $9 billion off its annual gas bill and values its transit system at $20 billion. Russia seeks a share in that system, but Kiev wants Moscow to pay an appropriate sum.