Next Trilateral Talks on Ukraine Gas Deliveries May Be Held in September

The next trilateral gas negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission may be held by the end of September.

VIENNA (Sputnik) — The next trilateral gas negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission (EC) may be held in Brussels, Belgium, by the end of September, EC Vice President on Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said.

A date for the meeting has not been determined yet, Sefcovic told reporters.

Sefcovic added that he was looking forward to a successful meeting, because the winter period is very close.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak met with Sefcovic in Vienna earlier in September. The sides agreed on a series of key conditions for winter package deliveries to Ukraine, including a discount for two consecutive quarters.

On July 1, Kiev suspended gas purchases from Russia’s energy company Gazprom after the two countries were unable to reach an agreement covering the third quarter of 2015. At present, Ukraine receives reverse gas flows from the European Union.

In late August, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said he expected Ukraine to receive a loan for winter gas supplies by the end of October.