Russian and Ukrainian energy negotiators were badly split on Tuesday, with Kiev officials claiming a breakthrough in talks on shipments of Russian natural gas deliveries to Europe, and Russian officials flatly denying it, according to DPA. Ivan Plachkov, Ukrainian Minister of Fuel and Energy, told Kiev reporters a deal on a gradual price increase for Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine has been struck in discussions between his agency and the Kremlin. Ukraine currently pays the Russian natural gas monopolist Gazprom 50 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres of fuel delivered, a price Gazprom officials have said should be raised immediately to 230 dollars. The terms as described by Plachkov would mark a dramatic climb- down from that position. Gazprom officials rejected Plachkov's statement only hours later. "That is absolutely incorrect, a complete fabrication," said Sergei Kuprianov, the Gazprom spokesman. "This (Fradkov's claim Russia had agreed to gradual price increases) is just an invention to take money from our (Gazprom) pocket." Ukraine Ministry of Energy and Fuel officials told the Interfax news agency Kiev was negotiating with Russia's Ministry of Industry and Energy which, according to the report, would set terms favourable to Ukraine that Gazprom would accept.
