Kyiv has almost no foreign currency reserves, and They have to count every penny. For this reason, the Ukrainian government took such a tough stance in negotiations on Russian gas supplies, I am sure the chief editor of Business New Europe Ben ARIS. About it he RT correspondents.

"Payment for imported gas - the main waste. They are counting every penny, you have to go through this period. At the moment They do not import any gas from Russia, for this reason take a hard line and pushing the maximum low cost you are able to get, " he said.

ARIS Also said that the Kiev government "really can not stand" in the gas issue.

"The essence of the dispute is that" we have no money to pay (gas), so you have to meet us halfway, " added the editor of the publication.

Also ARIS tried to persuade the Ukrainian government to look at internal resources that can be applied to increase its energy independence. For example, he introduced the initiative to consider these types of resources, like shale gas and coal.

"at the moment They are just trying to minimize the number of gas purchased from Russia, redirecting gas from neighboring Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. But the fact that They will always have to import some portion of gas from Russia, " he said.

One of the main reasons why Kiev is such a tough position, says the analyst, is that the foreign exchange reserves of the country Almost at the end.

The currency reserves of Ukraine will last only for two months, which is just enough to keep the stability of the hryvnia, for this reason, the government does not change its position on the request for the lightest of rules of acquisition of gas, he added.

Besides ARIS said that stability in Ukraine is very much dependent on gas supplies to the European Union.

sections: Politics