EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs said he has received assurances from Ukraine of a solution to Russia's dispute with Kiev over unpaid debt for gas supplies by Nov 1.
Piebalgs said: "Transparency is capital in our relations with gas supply and transit countries. I welcome the information that minister Boiko has provided and I expect the issue to be solved by 1st of November."
The commissioner had a telephone conversation with minister of energy and fuel, Yuriy Boiko.
Boiko also confirmed Ukraine's commitment to be a "reliable transit country" for gas to the EU, the European Commission said in a statement.
Russian energy giant Gazprom and the Ukrainian government have been engaged in a dispute over unpaid debt for gas supplies.
(AFX News)