OREANDA-NEWS. August 28, 2015. European Commission Vice-President for the Energy Union chaired talks on energy security with Ukraine in Vienna. Ukraine was represented by the Minister for Energy and Coal Industries, Mr Vladimir Demchyshyn as well as the CEO from Naftogaz, Mr Andriy Kobolyev. The meeting was conducted in a constructive atmosphere and focused on the necessary actions to ensure stable gas supplies to Ukraine and via Ukraine to the EU during winter.

The meeting was organised at the initiative of the European Commission and served as an intermediate step in view of preparing for the next round of trilateral gas negotiations between the European Commission, Russia and Ukraine. Today’s meeting will be followed by a bilateral meeting with the Russian Energy Minister on 11 September in Vienna.

The European Commission acts as a mediator in the latest round of trilateral talks that started in March 2015. The Commission aims at facilitating a new protocol on gas deliveries from Russia to Ukraine for the next heating season until the end of March 2016. The Commission remains convinced that a follow-up to the winter 2014 package would enables all parties to find an acceptable framework for gas trade and purchase.