German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday warned about energy security amid a gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia and called for a broad energy mix.
"We can't give the all clear yet when it comes to security of supply," she said at a conference organized by the German Federation of Energy and Water Companies, or BDEW. "We will have to continue talks with Ukraine and Russia," Merkel said.
Earlier Wednesday, the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, said it would hold talks Monday with Ukraine and Russia at the level of high-ranking officials to assure the reliability of gas supplies.
Merkel also said that it was of vital interest to have many sources of energy and solidarity must be possible, adding that Germany would be willing to help Poland with its energy supply.
"We don't need a battle of the pipelines," Merkel said of the rival Northstream, Southstream and Nabucco projects.
Merkel also said she would be in favor of extending the lifespan of Germany's nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy is a controversial issue in the grand coalition government because Merkel's coalition partner, the Social Democrats, insist on continuing with a phase-out plan agreed when the coalition was formed.