/ world today news/ Russian gas supplies to the EU will not be interrupted while the negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the EU last.
This was stated by European Commission spokesperson Pia Hansen at a press conference, noting that this was the general decision of the meeting on this topic in Warsaw on May 2 between European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger and the energy ministers of Russia and Ukraine.
According to her, some progress was made at this meeting, on which Moscow and Kiev should build, especially on the issue of the price of gas supplies.
She pointed out that the EU will issue a unified response to yesterday’s second letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin related to Ukraine’s gas supply obligations. Hansen expressed the EC’s satisfaction that Kiev has already declared its readiness in principle to settle with Moscow before the end of May.
The Commission has proposed to the Russian side to hold a new tripartite meeting (EC, Russia and Ukraine) on gas issues on May 26, but is still awaiting confirmation from Moscow. Hansen announced that a meeting of the European energy commissioner with the Russian energy minister is coming up next Monday.
The EC has been proposing tripartite talks for a long time, we are glad that this idea has already been accepted, added the spokesperson on the occasion of Putin’s new letter. According to her, the criticisms made in the Russian president’s letter are groundless. In his second letter, the Russian president accuses the EU of being passive on the issue of settling Ukrainian debts to Moscow.
The Commission again called for gas supplies not to be used as a political weapon. According to the speaker, all countries must show themselves as reliable partners.
Earlier today, the EC announced that EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy Stefan Füle will travel to Kyiv again. The aim is to continue preparations for the signing of the remaining parts of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU. Füle will meet with President Oleksandr Turchynov, with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and with representatives of civil society and Tatars in Crimea.
Meanwhile, Stefan Füle stated that he considers the possibility of signing the economic part of the Association Agreement after the elections in Ukraine to be completely real, UNN reported.
“My answer is: yes. We have held long negotiations. All member states are ready for this process,” said Fule, adding that the European Commission also supports the signing of the economic part of Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the EU.
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