KIEV, December 13 (RIA Novosti) - After weeks at an impasse, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said Tuesday that his country is ready to gradually transfer to paying market prices for Russian natural gas.
"Ukraine is ready to pay for [natural] gas on purely market conditions, but with a gradual transition period," Yushchenko said, adding that Kiev is now awaiting Moscow's response.
Yushchenko said he was convinced that Russia and Ukraine would find a mutually beneficial solution to the problem and urged the two sides to avoid political speculations on the issue.
He also said Ukraine would not hamper Russian natural gas transit to Europe via Ukraine.
"Ukraine has given state guarantees to ensure transit and these guarantees are unconditional," Yushchenko said.
Ukraine has been paying between $50-60 per 1,000 cu m, but Russia is demanding that its western neighbor and fellow former Soviet republic pay the $120 per 1,000 cu m being asked of European countries.
