Gazprom, Ukraine have 'constructive' talks

MOSCOW, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Russian natural gas company Gazprom said it was ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine following a "constructive" meeting with the country's energy minister.

Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller met with Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Boiko in Moscow to discuss a natural gas deal for Ukraine.

"The meeting was held in a constructive manner," the Russian company said in a statement.

Ukrainian officials are pressing for a better natural gas deal from Russia, noting the estimated $400 paid to Gazprom for every 1,000 cubic meters of gas is damaging an economy battered by a lingering recession.

The Ukrainian government, meanwhile, is considering ways to cut energy costs to meet terms of a bailout package awarded by the International Monetary Fund.

European Energy Commissioner Gunter Oettinger said following recent talks with Ukrainian officials the European Union was willing "if Ukraine and Russia so wish" to step into the ongoing gas talks.

Ukraine has tried to move closer to the EU, which expressed frustration after former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was sent to prison after a conviction on charges she abused her authority in the 2009 gas deal.