KYIV, Nov 19 – Gazprom's proposal that Naftogaz Ukrayiny drop the $3 billion claim it has already won against the Russian gas giant in Stockholm arbitration in exchange for a "discount" on gas purchases does not make economic sense, the Ukrainian company's executive director, Yuriy Vitrenko, said.

"If you consider that this 'discount' [on gas] that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is talking about, even if you count simply economically, will pay for itself in 28 years if you compare it just to the $3 billion that Gazprom already owes us, let alone new lawsuits," Vitrenko said on TV channel ICTV on Monday evening.