Ukraine, Naftogaz send pre-arbitration claim to Gazprom, says Yatseniuk

The Ukrainian government and the national gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy are preparing to file a lawsuit against the Russian gas giant Gazprom, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

"A pre-arbitration claim has been sent to the Russian monopolist," he said after a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

Yatseniuk explained that under the contracts, Gazprom is obliged to give a clear answer to this claim within 30 days, including on the issue of gas price.

If they fail to reach pre-trial settlement on this matter, the appeal to the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce is the most civilized way to resolve the conflict, the Ukrainian prime minister said.