BRUSSELS/KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine and the European Union have agreed that the EU’s executive arm will serve as guarantor in any agreement for Russia to supply Ukraine with gas, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Thursday.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, meanwhile, said Moscow and Kiev could sign a gas deal later in the day if all necessary documents were finalised.
EU-hosted talks to unblock deliveries of Russian gas to Ukraine will resume on Thursday, the European Commission said, as Moscow reiterated its demand for advance payment for future supplies.
Russian gas exporter Gazprom cut off supplies to Ukraine in June, citing unpaid bills.
The latest discussions, which ended in the early hours of Thursday, made no progress.
“We and the European Commission have reached an agreement that the Commission will be a virtual guarantor of Russia fulfilling its obligations regarding a fair price,” Yatseniuk told a government meeting in Kiev.
Jointly prepared documents laying down a common understanding have been prepared and are now with the governments in Moscow and Kiev for approval, a spokeswoman for the Brussels-based Commission said in a statement.
“Trilateral consultations will continue throughout the course of today (Thursday),” the spokeswoman said.
Read more at Reuters
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.