When the gas crisis was at its peak, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with foreign journalists to explain to them the Russian position once again. Izvestia quotes the most interesting parts of his interview.
"I don't know whether this is a commercial secret, and the figures vary in different countries but I'll say that the average price of Turkmen gas for Russia itself is $340 per one thousand cubic metres. If we add the cost of its transportation to Europe, it is $375 per one thousand cubic metres. Nevertheless, Gazprom made a generous proposal to its Ukrainian partners. I feel uncomfortable even quoting this figure, but I'll mention it - $250 per thousand cubic metres of gas. Why do I say ‘uncomfortable'? Because Russian consumers are bound to ask: Why on Earth? However, Gazprom made this offer. What do you think happened next? This proposal was rejected, and on December 31 last year, the Ukrainian delegation cut short the talks and left Moscow."
"Ukraine rejected our request to invite international observers to its gas-monitoring station in writing (I also have this response). On January 2, Naftogaz of Ukraine officially declared in writing (we have this document) its intention to take 21 million cubic metres of transit gas for use as technical gas. Under the existing contract, Ukraine is unequivocally obliged to guarantee transit with its own technical gas."
"If we buy gas in Central Asia at a price of $340 per one thousand cubic metres, and offer it for sale at $250, what does this amount to? But our Ukrainian partners are refusing to sign this contract. How can this be viewed as political pressure?"
"I do not trade in gas, cucumbers, beer, salt pork, or anything else. This is a commercial issue, and they should come to terms between themselves but at a market price. This is obvious."
"Sign the protocol, appoint your observers, and send them to Russia's border with Ukraine, and Ukraine's border with Western Europe. Sit there and watch 24 hours a day. Eat salt pork and drink Gorilka (vodka). Salt pork is good in Ukraine, I guarantee it. People send it to me."
"We have never avoided contact with our Ukrainian partners at any level. One of my European counterparts called me recently, and we discussed at length gas supplies to a country to which Ukraine stopped transit. I asked him later whether he discussed this problem with the Ukrainian leaders. He said ‘no,' he does not get connected with Yushchenko, he is a big boss; Ms Tymoshenko said she was sick, and her deputy does not decide anything. This is how they treat their partners."