Ukraine proposes Russia to extend temporary gas deal

Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz said Monday it has proposed Russia's Gazprom to extend the so-called "winter package," a temporary deal which sets pricing mechanism for natural gas supplies.
"Naftogaz has sent Gazprom a letter in which the company expresses support for extending the 'winter package'," said a statement at the official website of Naftogaz.
Kiev is willing to extend the agreement, which expires Tuesday, until April 2016 and is ready to discuss the proposal with Moscow, the statement said.
According to the "winter package" deal reached last October under the mediation of the European Union, Russia has agreed to deliver gas to Ukraine with a discount and on a pre-payments basis.
Under the agreement, Ukraine pays Russia 329 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter of 2015, which is about 100 dollars below the regular price.
A basic agreement, which covers Russian gas supplies to Ukraine, was signed between the two sides in 2009 for a ten-year- period. The deal ties the price of gas to those of oil and obliges Ukraine to pay for the agreed amount of gas whether it uses it or not.