MOSCOW — In the first meeting of its kind in six years, Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that Russia should reconsider its gas prices.

The meeting, which took place in Putin’s Moscow residence on Friday, is a sign of thawing relations between Russia and Lithuania. Putin usually receives a cold welcome from the Baltic states, which remain wary of Russian attempts to reassert hegemony over its former territories, and was even snubbed recently by the Estonian head of government during the Baltic Sea Action Summit in Helsinki.

Kubilius explained to the Russian Prime Minister that Lithuania is building a liquid natural gas import terminal to diversify its gas import abilities and that the Russian gas giant Gazprom should reconsider its [private_supervisor]pricing schemata with neighbors. It’s unclear how seriously Russia is taking Lithuania’s request.

“We are interested in discussing gas supplies. We follow developments in the global gas industry very closely, and we plan to construct an LNG terminal either in Lithuania or jointly with other Baltic states. We believe that Gazprom will consider global gas trends and improve its pricing policy,” Kubilius said during the meeting.

Russian gas has largely filled the gap in Lithuanian energy needs after the European Union-mandated shutdown of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Dec. 31.

Meanwhile the Baltic states are planning to jointly build a replacement for the plant in Lithuania. Although it will not be completed until at least 2018, Lithuania has rejected offers from Russia to partake in the construction of a Kaliningrad nuclear plant, which broke ground in February.

“We said very clearly that we are not planning to take part in the construction of the Kaliningrad nuclear plant, as we are in the process of constructing our own,” Kubilius said at a post-meeting press conference in Moscow. “I expressed our concern over the nuclear plant to be built in Kaliningrad as well as certain ecological issues it raises. We agreed that these concerns would be addressed and given consideration.”

Despite the refusal, the meeting had its warmer moments. Kubilius thanked Putin for sorting out the Russian blockade against Lithuanian goods on the border. The ban on Lithuanian dairy products cost around 100 million litai (€29 million) in lost business.

“As an open economy, Lithuania is interested in expanding bilateral trade relations with Russia. Russia is a very important import and export partner for us. We would like to thank you for resolving the problems regarding dairy products, cheeses and other such products,” Kubilius said.

Putin said Russia is interested increasing sporting and cultural exchange between the two former Soviet republics.

“We have always had a great interest in Lithuanian culture. This is our traditional interest. Not just your dairy products, your culture too,” Putin said. “I am also interested in sports. In my young years I once won Lithuania’s open sambo championship, and I have first-hand knowledge of the history of sports between our countries. There is a lot that could and should be restored.”

Kubilius invited Putin to join the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting June 1 and 2, pointing out that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is planned to attend. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]pricing schemata with neighbors. It’s unclear how seriously Russia is taking Lithuania’s request.

“We are interested in discussing gas supplies. We follow developments in the global gas industry very closely, and we plan to construct an LNG terminal either in Lithuania or jointly with other Baltic states. We believe that Gazprom will consider global gas trends and improve its pricing policy,” Kubilius said during the meeting.

Russian gas has largely filled the gap in Lithuanian energy needs after the European Union-mandated shutdown of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Dec. 31.

Meanwhile the Baltic states are planning to jointly build a replacement for the plant in Lithuania. Although it will not be completed until at least 2018, Lithuania has rejected offers from Russia to partake in the construction of a Kaliningrad nuclear plant, which broke ground in February.

“We said very clearly that we are not planning to take part in the construction of the Kaliningrad nuclear plant, as we are in the process of constructing our own,” Kubilius said at a post-meeting press conference in Moscow. “I expressed our concern over the nuclear plant to be built in Kaliningrad as well as certain ecological issues it raises. We agreed that these concerns would be addressed and given consideration.”

Despite the refusal, the meeting had its warmer moments. Kubilius thanked Putin for sorting out the Russian blockade against Lithuanian goods on the border. The ban on Lithuanian dairy products cost around 100 million litai (€29 million) in lost business.

“As an open economy, Lithuania is interested in expanding bilateral trade relations with Russia. Russia is a very important import and export partner for us. We would like to thank you for resolving the problems regarding dairy products, cheeses and other such products,” Kubilius said.

Putin said Russia is interested increasing sporting and cultural exchange between the two former Soviet republics.

“We have always had a great interest in Lithuanian culture. This is our traditional interest. Not just your dairy products, your culture too,” Putin said. “I am also interested in sports. In my young years I once won Lithuania’s open sambo championship, and I have first-hand knowledge of the history of sports between our countries. There is a lot that could and should be restored.”

Kubilius invited Putin to join the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting June 1 and 2, pointing out that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is planned to attend. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]pricing schemata with neighbors. It’s unclear how seriously Russia is taking Lithuania’s request.

“We are interested in discussing gas supplies. We follow developments in the global gas industry very closely, and we plan to construct an LNG terminal either in Lithuania or jointly with other Baltic states. We believe that Gazprom will consider global gas trends and improve its pricing policy,” Kubilius said during the meeting.

Russian gas has largely filled the gap in Lithuanian energy needs after the European Union-mandated shutdown of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Dec. 31.

Meanwhile the Baltic states are planning to jointly build a replacement for the plant in Lithuania. Although it will not be completed until at least 2018, Lithuania has rejected offers from Russia to partake in the construction of a Kaliningrad nuclear plant, which broke ground in February.

“We said very clearly that we are not planning to take part in the construction of the Kaliningrad nuclear plant, as we are in the process of constructing our own,” Kubilius said at a post-meeting press conference in Moscow. “I expressed our concern over the nuclear plant to be built in Kaliningrad as well as certain ecological issues it raises. We agreed that these concerns would be addressed and given consideration.”

Despite the refusal, the meeting had its warmer moments. Kubilius thanked Putin for sorting out the Russian blockade against Lithuanian goods on the border. The ban on Lithuanian dairy products cost around 100 million litai (€29 million) in lost business.

“As an open economy, Lithuania is interested in expanding bilateral trade relations with Russia. Russia is a very important import and export partner for us. We would like to thank you for resolving the problems regarding dairy products, cheeses and other such products,” Kubilius said.

Putin said Russia is interested increasing sporting and cultural exchange between the two former Soviet republics.

“We have always had a great interest in Lithuanian culture. This is our traditional interest. Not just your dairy products, your culture too,” Putin said. “I am also interested in sports. In my young years I once won Lithuania’s open sambo championship, and I have first-hand knowledge of the history of sports between our countries. There is a lot that could and should be restored.”

Kubilius invited Putin to join the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting June 1 and 2, pointing out that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is planned to attend. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]pricing schemata with neighbors. It’s unclear how seriously Russia is taking Lithuania’s request.

“We are interested in discussing gas supplies. We follow developments in the global gas industry very closely, and we plan to construct an LNG terminal either in Lithuania or jointly with other Baltic states. We believe that Gazprom will consider global gas trends and improve its pricing policy,” Kubilius said during the meeting.

Russian gas has largely filled the gap in Lithuanian energy needs after the European Union-mandated shutdown of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Dec. 31.

Meanwhile the Baltic states are planning to jointly build a replacement for the plant in Lithuania. Although it will not be completed until at least 2018, Lithuania has rejected offers from Russia to partake in the construction of a Kaliningrad nuclear plant, which broke ground in February.

“We said very clearly that we are not planning to take part in the construction of the Kaliningrad nuclear plant, as we are in the process of constructing our own,” Kubilius said at a post-meeting press conference in Moscow. “I expressed our concern over the nuclear plant to be built in Kaliningrad as well as certain ecological issues it raises. We agreed that these concerns would be addressed and given consideration.”

Despite the refusal, the meeting had its warmer moments. Kubilius thanked Putin for sorting out the Russian blockade against Lithuanian goods on the border. The ban on Lithuanian dairy products cost around 100 million litai (€29 million) in lost business.

“As an open economy, Lithuania is interested in expanding bilateral trade relations with Russia. Russia is a very important import and export partner for us. We would like to thank you for resolving the problems regarding dairy products, cheeses and other such products,” Kubilius said.

Putin said Russia is interested increasing sporting and cultural exchange between the two former Soviet republics.

“We have always had a great interest in Lithuanian culture. This is our traditional interest. Not just your dairy products, your culture too,” Putin said. “I am also interested in sports. In my young years I once won Lithuania’s open sambo championship, and I have first-hand knowledge of the history of sports between our countries. There is a lot that could and should be restored.”

Kubilius invited Putin to join the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting June 1 and 2, pointing out that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is planned to attend. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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