EU Particularly Interested in Gas Deal Between Kiev, Moscow - German Media

The gas agreement between Russia and Ukraine reached with the mediation of the European Commission ensures gas deliveries to Western Europe until the end of March 2016, the German newspaper Das Bild wrote.

Ukraine is the most important transit country for gas supplies from Russia to Europe, that is why the EU is particularly interested in bridging differences between Kiev and Gazprom, the newspaper wrote.

Despite the difficult political situation, Russia and Ukraine recently reached an agreement on gas supplies for the winter period 2015-2016. The talks took place at the EU headquarters in Brussels and lasted for five hours, the European Commission Vice President Maroš Shefovich said.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stated that the negotiations were difficult.

According to Shefovich, the new gas agreement will cover the period from October 2015 to the end of March 2016. In October, Ukraine is planning to buy two billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom.

"This is a crucial step in order to ensure that in the coming winter Ukraine will receive enough gas," Shefovich said. According to him, the agreement is also essential for a "sustainable, secure and reliable transit of Russian gas to the European Union."

The EU, which covers about a third of its gas needs by supplies from Russia, is particularly interested in resolving the dispute between Russia and Ukraine.

The newspaper, however, noted that despite the reached agreement, the necessary documents have not yet been signed.