Putin proposes Russia’s gas giant Gazprom merge with Ukraine’s state company Naftogaz
By APFriday, April 30, 2010
Putin proposes Gazprom, Ukraine’s Naftogaz merge
MOSCOW — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is proposing the country’s gas giant Gazprom merge with Ukraine’s state gas concern Naftogaz.
Putin’s suggestion follows a flurry of political, military and financial deals since February’s election of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych.
The agreements, including a recent deal to extend Russia’s lease on a naval base in Ukraine in exchange for massive discounts on Russian gas, have brought closer the two countries that had grown apart under Yanukovych’s predecessor Viktor Yushchenko.
Putin made his proposal at a televised meeting Friday with a Ukrainian delegation in Sochi.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller was quoted as saying officials were considering an asset swap, which he called practically a merger.
