EU, Russia and Ukraine will hold trilateral talks in Brussels on Friday as the current deal is due to expire at the end of the month.
“The meetingtomorrowwill be a kick-off meeting to the gas talks, so first the parties will have to agree on the agenda i.e. what will be discussed in the coming negotiations. This will be the starting pointtomorrow,” European Commission energy spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told New Europe on Thursday asked whether the Commission expected any breakthrough on replacing the so-called Ukraine’s “Winter Package” for gas. Potentially, an agreement could see Ukraine to continue buying Russian gas at a discount from April 1, when the “Winter Package” expires.
As EU leaders meet in Brussels for a summit on Thursday, analysts say that a decision on early extension of the Western sanctions against Russia for its role in Eastern Ukraine would not be helpful for the trilateral gas negotiations.
Ukraine depends on Russia for its gas supplies and is also an important gas transit country for Europe. Brussels has been mediating the talks between the two sides, whose relations are strained by thewar in Ukraine’s eastern regions.
Earlier in March, Demchyshynsaid issues including the cost of gas transit through Ukrainian territory and fuel discounts will be on the agenda.
Demchyshyn has said Kiev will reduce its purchase of Russian gas because it’s 15% more expensive thanreserve flow gas from Europe.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/eu-russia-ukraine-kick-gas-talks