Let Yushchenko try and buy cheap Russian gas after marring Ukraine-Russia relations - Tymoshenko

September17200819:50

Addressing her press conference Sept. 17 on the heels of the cabinet’s public presentation of the 2009 draft budget, Premier Yulia Tymoshenko said the budget will have to be finalized after the 2009 price for gas for Ukraine is known, the cabinet’s press service release runs.

The premier said that the draft was calculated using average indicators for 2009, but the document can be finalized only when Ukraine gets its price for Russian gas supplies in 2009.

“If the president is so vehement about the hand of Moscow [that allegedly controls the premier], let him try to get cheap gas from this hand in the near future,” she added.

The premier warned that the president will be held accountable if Ukraine-Russia relations are marred, as Russia may, among other things, close its sugar market to Ukraine. “When Ukraine declares an information war on Russia, humiliates and hurts this country, reprisals will follow. That is why, I will hold Yushchenko personally responsible for messing up our relations with Russia,” Yulia Tymoshenko said.

Comments

07:4829.09.08 Eileen
- I, too, wish that the US butt out of Ukraine. It did Georgia no favors through its meddling; instead, provoked Russia into kicking Georgia's backside. If the US had a Yulia Tymoshenko, there would be no $700 billion bailout plan. Instead, Paulson and Bernanke would be in prison.
13:2628.09.08 aloknofool
- Tymoshenko should be congratulated for showing a grasp for reality and putting Ukraine's interests first despite of tricky, deadeye Dick Cheney's visit and advice, aka bullying.
  But where has tricky Dick been during this Bailout fiasco in the US? Is he too busy organizing a 10-11 to care for such trivialty of burdening US taxpayers with an additional $700 billion as a start up?
  I am just hoping some journalist would look up at his public diary, find the gaps and publish that.
09:0828.09.08 Russian in US
- I wish that US butts out of Ukraine. I hope that Ukraineans did not listen to US Vice President Dick Cheney. He is responsible for the war in Iraq (all Americans agree on that) and he and Bush are responsible for the war in Georgia. US is using Ukraine and Georgia as pawns against Russia. They consider all non-Americans as a second rate citizens.
  I hope that Russian and Ukranians stop their arguing and find a common ground. Their history is so intertvined that it would a shame to see it ruined.
00:4324.09.08 Bryant
- I wish the United States had a leader like Yulia. She to have the interested of Ukraine in mind, whereas Yushchenko seems to be nothing more than a puppet of Washington, intent on turning Ukraine into a client state.