Brussels, 03/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 June, the day after a trilateral meeting at expert level, an EU source close to the issue said the date was still to be announced for the next trilateral ministerial meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the EU to conclude a new agreement on the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine, but that work was progressing on the technical level.
“We still don't have a date for the next trilateral meeting at ministerial level but work is progressing” to define the draft agreement which will take over from the 2014-15 winter package on providing Ukraine with Russian gas, this EU source stated.
The 2014-15 winter package, which was concluded at the end of October 2014 with the mediation of the EU, expired at the end of March - but Russian gas company Gazprom has agreed to extend it temporarily until the end of June.
“Discussions have been very constructive. The draft text of the agreement is taking shape”, the source added, stating that the EU is hoping for a ministerial meeting “before the summer break”. (Emmanuel Hagry)