CRI听力：Russia, Ukraine Fail to Reach Agreement on Gas Restoration

Russia and Ukraine have failed to reach any agreement to restore gas supplies to a freezing Europe.

An earlier meeting that also included officials from the 27-nation European Union ended without a resolution to a dispute between Moscow and Kiev. The dispute has drastically reduced supplies of Russian gas to Europe for nearly two weeks.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke at a press conference after the meeting in Moscow.(www.hxen.net)

"In order to reach a final agreement on deliveries and the opening of the gas delivery system of Ukraine, we must agree on a proper control, the elimination of unsanctioned gas take-off, what we, in tough language, call an illegal appropriation of gas, as well as on a manner of payment, how to sort out payments, and in what technological condition gas pipes should be maintained."

Medvedev stressed the need to diversify the routes of Russian gas exports.

But he said the construction of new pipelines does not mean Russia will give up shipping gas through current transit systems, including the pipelines across Ukraine.

Medvedev also insisted that Ukraine pay market prices for Russian gas.

The Russian President said the talks would be continued by the prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine. He also expressed confidence in a swift settlement.