Updated 3:50 p.m. Moscow time
MOSCOW, October 10 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Energy ministry said Friday it had agreed to the European Commission’s proposal to hold another round of three-party gas talks in Berlin on October 21.
“The Russian side has agreed to the proposed date of three-party talks in the Russia-Ukraine-EU format to discuss uninterrupted transit of gas via the territory of Ukraine. The new round of talks will take place in Berlin on October 21,” the ministry said.
During a ministerial gas meeting in Berlin on September 26, Moscow and the European Commission proposed the so-called winter package, a deal which obliges Ukraine to pay $3.1 billion of its debt to Russia by the end of the year in exchange for gas deliveries during the winter months at the rate of $385 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Ukraine is not satisfied with the package, saying it wants to agree the debt repayment schedule, as well as terms and schedules of future gas deliveries and insists on amending the current gas contract with Russia in order to formally authorize reverse deliveries of Russian gas to Ukraine from Europe.
Kiev also hopes to hold additional discussions with the European Commission to reach a consensus on gas issues before the new round of trilateral gas talks takes place on October 21.
