What kind of company "buys" gas at 230 and "sells" at 90? It's all a sham to save Russian face. ===
If you can read russian then go there and read. http://obozrevatel.com.ua/news/2006/1/5/77250.htm
It is ukranian source.
Accually Gazprom didn't take onligation to sell Ukraien at $95. It has to do by some offshore company RusUkrEnergo with capital of 10000 euros. So if tomorrow this company will fail it sobligations then Ukraine may ask Gazprom to sell gas at $230 (according new contract).
Now all the hope of Ukraine left on "the father of all turkmen" (Turkmenbashi) the big "democrate" himself. HE has to save the young ukranian democracy and gave up cheap gas:))))).
What if next half year he will deicide to increase his prices. What then?:))
Russia gave Ukraine the reach to Turmenbashi but she never obliged to give Ukraine cheap gas. It is matter for Turkembashi.
No, if RusUkrEnergo folds, what stops Ukraine from repeating the "gas war"?
Now all the hope of Ukraine left on "the father of all turkmen" (Turkmenbashi) the big "democrate" himself. HE has to save the young ukranian democracy and gave up cheap gas:))))).
No, it doesn't matter in the least if Turkmens raise their gas- RUEnergo has to sell at $95. If their business is not profitable and they fold- start the war again. It looks like Turkmenistan is the loser here- it no longer has any contact with Ukraine and would have to sell its gas to RUEnergo/Gasprom.
If you take Russian gas at $230 and Turkmeni gas at $60 together, it comes out that Ukraine would pay $95. But if you consider that the real value of Turkmeni gas was not $60 but $85-90 because of the transit, then Ukraine paying $95 results in Russian gas sold at $160. ($95 is what Ukraine pays at Ukraine-Russia border- ie. no transit fee for the Turkmeni gas.)
That's my view, take it for whatever it is. To me this appears more like compromise, not a clear cut victory. Too bad, I wanted a victory :)