UPDATE 1-Gazprom holds firm on Ukraine gas prices, debts
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MOSCOW Nov 18 (Reuters) - Gazprom poured cold water on Monday on Ukraine's hopes for lower gas prices and for gradual payments of its $1.3 billion in gas debts, saying it had not reached any new agreement with Russia's western neighbour.
"We don't have any documents on gradual payments for Ukraine," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said. "The gas price for Ukraine remains the same, as stipulated in our contract."
Russian gas exports to Ukraine resumed last Friday after a one-week delay. Ukrainian Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky was quoted by local media on Monday as saying that a compromise had been reached on a new debt-repayment schedule.
Ukraine pays Gazprom around $400 per 1,000 tonnes, one of the highest prices in Europe. Kiev calls the price exorbitant for its debt-laden economy.
Around half of Russia's gas exports to Europe traverse Ukraine's pipeline network. They have so far been unaffected by the latest in a series of price disputes that caused supplies to be interrupted in 2006 and 2009. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Pravin Char)

