EU says gas talks with Russia, Ukraine postponed from April 14

BRUSSELS, Apr 10 (PRIME) -- A gas meeting between Russian, Ukrainian and the E.U. scheduled for April 14 was postponed because unresolved technical problems remain which should be discussed by experts first, the European Commission said in a statement Friday.

Earlier on Friday, CEO of Ukraine’s energy holding Naftogaz Ukrainy Andrei Kobolev said the country plans to negotiate a 12-month gas supply agreement at the next round of negotiations with Russia and the E.U. under the same conditions which it had in January–March.

Russia supplies gas to Kiev under a contract signed in 2009 but in 2014 it had to set milder terms so that Ukraine could continue imports. The last short-term agreement, including a U.S. $100 discount for 1,000 cubic meters and a temporary repeal of penalties for low gas outtake, terminated on April 1.

E.U. Commissioner for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said in late March that the new gas agreement may remain in force until the Stockholm Arbitration Court rules on mutual claims between Moscow and Kiev, regarding price hikes and delays in payments.

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