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The trilateral meeting of Russia, the European Commission and Ukraine on gas is likely to be held in December, RIA Novosti quoted Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak as saying on November 25.

He made the remarks following the meeting with European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic in Moscow.

“We discussed the implementation of the current contract with Ukraine and agreed with Sefcovic to hold a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian representatives to discuss the additional gas supply within the current contracts,” added Novak.

He pointed out that the gas price set by Russia’s Gazprom company for Ukraine is by $15-30 lower than on European spot markets, therefore, it is more expedient for Kyiv to buy gas from Russia.

In meetings with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Gazprom Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev, Sefcovic has reiterated the readiness of the European Commission to continue discussing gas supplies for the ongoing winter in the trilateral format, the European Commission reported.

"I look forward to hosting gas talks with Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission. The next round of talks should happen in Brussels soon,” he said. “In the past, this forum has proven its usefulness: it is better for all to sit down together around one table.”

Sefcovic stressed that Russia as an exporter, Ukraine as a transit country and the EU as the main importer share a common interest of predictability, adding that the trilateral format remains the most suitable for discussing gas supplies for the upcoming winter heating season.

Sefcovic pointed out that the European Union and Russia are interdependent in energy matters.

“The European Union is the key customer for Russia´s fossil fuel exports: We pay on time. We pay in hard currency. And we also want to buy Russian gas in the future,” added Sefcovic.

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