The European Union will participate in continued talks over Russian gas supplies for Ukraine and Kiev is hoping for Europe's support in the dispute, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yury Prodan said Tuesday.
"The European community is interested and will participate in our negotiations with Russia," he said during a televised parliamentary debate on the Russia-Ukraine gas crisis.
"We hope that we will not be left to face Russia alone," he said.
Moscow and Kiev have yet to reach a deal on the price for Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine in 2009, with Russia demanding an increase to $470 per 1,000 cubic meters, up from $179.50 in 2008.
Ukraine, which has long benefited from preferential prices on Russian gas, refused Dec. 31 an offer to pay $250 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Russia subsequently cut off gas supplies to Ukraine's domestic market, eventually leading to widespread disruptions for European supplies.
Russian and Ukrainian officials confirmed Tuesday that gas had resumed flowing towards Europe under an E.U.-brokered deal.
The dispute, which saw gas for hundreds of thousands of people cut across Europe, has raised concerns about the reliability of supply from Russia, which the E.U. relies on for a quarter of its total gas consumption.