BRUSSELS, 20 Mar RIA Novosti/Prime. Russia insists that the price formula and rules of the existing contract "Gazprom" and "Naftogaz of Ukraine" cannot be modified prior to its expiration, said to reporters, the Minister of energy Alexander Novak.

"The Russian side's position and believes that the existing contract and the price formula may not be changed before the expiration of an existing contract. The current contract provides for the possibility of providing discounts and parties take this opportunity to govern that relationship, " said Novak on the results of the trilateral meeting of the Russia-Ukraine-EC on gas.

"We agreed on a quarterly basis to consider (gas price), as of today, prices are unstable gas. Since the pricing formula is taken into account the long term (9 months) When calculating the price, for this reason will be considered on a quarterly basis, " added the Minister.

sections: Politics