Gazprom talks with Kiev expected Jan. 15

Talks between Russia and Ukraine on natural gas deliveries from Gazprom are expected to resume Jan 15, the chairman of the gas company said. Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller met with Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko in St. Petersburg to discuss the bilateral gas deal. "The parties highlighted the positive and constructive nature of talks conducted in 2011 and the good prospects for the next round of negotiations that would be held on Jan. 15, 2012," the Russian energy company said in a statement. Ukrainian officials recently issued a budget outline for 2012 that includes natural gas prices at their current rate, about $400 per 1,000 cubic meters. The 2009 deal requires Ukraine to import no less than 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year. Ukraine's prime minister was in Moscow last week to put more impetus behind efforts to revise the natural gas deal. Gazprom, however, warned Ukrainian officials not to expect anything before the end of the year. Kiev blames high natural gas prices for a weak economy, which has put national energy company Naftogaz in considerable debt.