Ukraine Waiting for Russia’s Reply On Trilateral Gas Talks

Ukraine hopes to negotiate gas price with Russia, although there is still no certain date, Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Kiev considers it necessary to have trilateral gas discussions with Russia and the European Commission, Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn told Sputnik on Thursday.

Ukraine is currently waiting for Russia’s response on a possible date for trilateral negotiations on gas, Volodymyr Demchyshyn told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

"The negotiations [between Russia, Ukraine] take place from time to time. I have discussed with [Russian Energy Minister Alexander] Novak the possibility of trilateral talks with participation of the European Commission. He said he will think about it, about the possible timing of these negotiations. As of now, there is no certain date," Demchyshyn said on Thursday.

Maros Sefcovic, the EU body's energy chief, said in late January that the European Commission had discussed the possibility of holding a trilateral ministerial meeting on gas with Russia and Ukraine.

"At the moment, we are awaiting a response from Gazprom on the gas price, and from the Russian Energy Ministry about their readiness to meet to discuss those questions that have been accumulated," Demchyshyn told Sputnik.

Russian Ambassador to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said earlier in March that there is no reason for Russia to hold trilateral gas talks with the European Commission and Ukraine.