OREANDA-NEWS. Gazprom is preparing to negotiate a contract for the supply of gas to Ukraine at a price 25% lower than the current price. Company Chairman Alexei Miller announced a meeting after meeting with leaders of the Ukrainian party Opposition Platform - For Life, Yuriy Boyko and Viktor Medvedchuk at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

“We declare our readiness to open the negotiation process with the Ukrainian side and discuss the topic of natural gas supply, at a price 25% lower than the country pays now,” he said. The head of Gazprom also said that it was a priority to conclude a contract for the direct supply of natural gas, and not for transit.

“We note the enthusiasm and perseverance that the Opposition Platform For Life” shows in organizing direct negotiations with the Russian side to extend the contract for transit through the territory of Ukraine and to conclude a contract for the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine. This contract will be direct between Gazprom "and the Ukrainian company-operator. Recently, unreasonably much attention has been paid only to the issue of extending the contract for transit. In fact, the first, most important and most significant issue is the law Conclusion of a direct contract for the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine", he said.

Earlier, on March 22, Yuriy Boyko and Viktor Medvedchuk met in Moscow with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which was attended by Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Board of Gazprom. According to its results, Gazprom announced its readiness to reduce the price for gas supplies, the price could be reduced by a quarter. In turn, the Ukrainian side declared its readiness to offer Russia mutually beneficial options for extending the transit contract.