The European Commission will meet with Ukraine, Russia and international financial institutions again July 17 to try to avoid a new gas payment crisis between the two countries that could affect Europe's supplies in the winter, it said Wednesday.
"The commission has decided to organize a second meeting between Ukraine, Russia, the commission, and the international financial institutions due to take place this Friday," said commission spokesman Mark Gray during a routine press briefing.
Last month, the commission chaired a first meeting to explore the possibility of a loan to help Ukraine pay its gas bills, which include payments for storage gas needed to meet the higher European winter demand. People close to matter said at the time about $2 billion was needed, while Ukraine had initially asked for $4.2 billion.