Brussels, 18/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 March, the European Commission confirmed that a trilateral ministerial meeting with Russia and Ukraine will be held in Brussels on Friday 20 March in order to discuss a post-winter 2014-15 package arrangement for the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine. The Russian energy minister, Alexander Novak, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Demchyshyn, will take part in the meeting at the invitation of European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic. Sefcovic is assuring EU mediation in these discussions.
The winter 2014-15 package for the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine was concluded at the end of October 2014 with the EU's mediation in order to secure the transit of Russian gas across Ukraine to the EU. The package put part of the old dispute between Moscow and Kiev on hold as regards the payment arrears of Ukranian gas company Naftogaz to Russian gas company Gazprom, and it expires at the end of March.
After a hitch in mid-February over implementation of the winter package, Russia and Ukraine agreed, under EU mediation, on 2 February to assure the package continued until its expiry. Supplies of Russian gas to the EU were thus assured, transiting Ukraine. The two parties expressed their resolve to continue the trilateral discussions in order to come to an agreement on the follow-up to the winter package - as agreed in the Minsk agreements of 12 February. (Emmanuel Hagry)