Vice President of the European Commission, Maros Sefcovic, said on Tuesday he aimedto prolong an October 2014 trilateral gas deal between Ukraine, Russia and the European Union before the summer.
The EU’s energy union chief Sefcovic, who has been chairing the trilateral talks, said at an energy security conference in Brussels on Tuesday: "I hope to have the chance to concludeby the summer."
"I am confident that we will achieve further progress," Sefcovic said, referring to the gas talks brokered by the European Commission between Russia and Ukraine.
The European Commission invited Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers to Brussels for talks in February after Russia's Gazprom threatened to cut off itsgas supply to Ukraine within two days over what it said were Kiev's failure to send funds as previously agreed ina "winter package"deal.
Kiev and Moscowsealed a dealin October 2014, whichguaranteed the deliveryof Russian gas to Ukraine duringthewinter, even as the two countries were at odds over eastern Ukraine.
"The package addresses Ukraine's purchase of Russian gas but it isalso of major importance in ensuring stable, sufficient and uninterrupted transit of gas to the EU," Sefcovic said on Tuesday.
Disputes over gas prices between Moscowand Kievin 2006 and 2009 prompted Gazprom to cut supplies, causing gas shortages in Europe during freezing temperatures.
"I remain convinced that Ukraine will and should continue to play an important role in ensuring Europe's energy security as a transit country," saidSefcovic.
TheEU is the biggest energy importer in the world, spending over 1billion euros ($1.1 billion) a day, according to the European Commission.
(www.worldbulletin.net)
